According to data provided by the National Center for the Health of Children and Adolescents, in Mexico it is estimated that, annually, there are between 5,000 and 6,000 new cases of childhood cancer; that is, in those under 18 years of age. The most prominent is leukemia, which represents 52 percent of all cases; lymphomas 10 percent and tumors of the central nervous system 10%.
The estimated survival in Mexico is 56 percent of the diagnosis. The incidence rate of cancer cases is 9 cases per 100,000 children under 18 years of age for the non-eligible population in the Mexican Republic.
Mexico has an annual average of 2,150 deaths from cancer in children in the last decade. In other words, childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in Mexicans between 5 and 14 years of age, according to preliminary 2013 figures reported in the Epidemiological Statistical System of Deaths (SEED).
Childhood cancer care infrastructure
Currently, Mexico has 54 Accredited Medical Units (UMA) for the care of patients under 18 years of age with cancer. These UMA are classified according to the number of accreditations.
Worldwide, childhood cancer (between 0 and 18 years) has been increasing significantly, especially in low- and middle-income countries. There are multiple factors that can be mentioned for this rise.
Every 90 minutes a new case is registered in Mexico
In Mexico, every 90 minutes a new case of childhood cancer is registered and three out of four cases of these are detected in advanced stages. In the fight against childhood cancer there are several associations that do a great job such as Casa de la Amistad, Staff de los SueƱos, con Causa or Nicuatole, among others.
What is clear is that childhood cancer has a large presence in our country, but science is making great progress in order to stop what is considered a disease of the 21st century.