Importance of early detection of childhood cancer
SANDTON – CHOC would like to encourage communities to collaborate with healthcare workers, non-profits and government departments to spread awareness about childhood cancer.
This Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, the CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa is raising awareness on the importance of early detection and diagnosis.
According to a statement by the foundation, there have been many advances in paediatric oncology but cancer remains a leading cause of mortality in children.
“It is imperative that children are diagnosed early for effective treatment of early-stage disease, which will translate into favourable outcomes and improved overall survival.”
The Siluan early warning signs, adopted by the South African Children’s Cancer Study Group and the Department of Health, make early detection easy.
The Siluan early warning signs for childhood cancer are:
S – Seek medical help early for persistent symptoms
I – Inspect the eyes for white spots, a new squint, new blindness or a bulging eyeball
L – Lumps in the abdomen and pelvis, head and neck, limbs, testes and glands
U – Unexplained prolonged fever over two weeks, loss of weight, pallor, fatigue, easy bruising or bleeding
A – Aching bones, joints, back and easy fractures
N – Neurological signs: change or deterioration in walk, balance or speech, regression of milestones, headache for more than a week with or without vomiting, enlarging head.
“We encourage the community to be a voice of hope this September and collaborate with healthcare workers, non-profit organisations, and the Department of Health to spread the Siluan Warning Signs for early cancer diagnosis,” the foundation concluded.
If you are concerned your child may have cancer, please refer your child or teenager here.
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