CHOC urges more awareness around childhood cancer education

The Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa (CHOC) says much more needs to be done in terms of education and access to information on childhood cancer.

This comes as the country observes Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September.

According to the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), between 800 to 1 000 children are diagnosed with cancer annually.

However, it is estimated that half of the children with cancer in South Africa are never diagnosed.

Regional Manager of CHOC in KwaZulu-Natal, Agie Govender, says another major concern is now access to treatment.

“September is the International Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. It is an international movement around childhood cancer. In SA, we should be getting around 2 500 diagnosis per year of children with cancer, but we (are) only between 1 500 at the max, which means children not diagnosed and dying bad deaths in terms of children that should be diagnosed and (be) on treatment.”

PODCAST | CHOC encourages better education and access to information on childhood cancer: