News

Over 45 cases of childhood cancer each year

July 21, 2017 5:23 am

More than forty-five children under the age of fifteen are diagnosed with cancer each year but it is believed about half the cases go unreported.

Minister for Health and Medical Services Rosy Akbar says cancer is one of the leading causes of death in Fiji and it’s critical that parents are aware of its early symptoms in children before it’s too late.

“The overall rates of childhood cancer varies between fifty and two hundred and million children across the world and of course cancer is the second leading course of death globally with eight point two million cancer related deaths worldwide registered in 2012. So the annual number of new cases is projected to rise from fourteen point million in 2012 to twenty-one point six million in 2030.”

Article continues after advertisement

Akbar was speaking at the launch of the child cancer awareness month and National Paediatric Policy at the CWM Hospital in Suva today.

WOWS Kids Fiji Founder, Sina Kami says it’s important for parents to be aware of the signs and symptoms of childhood cancer.