- The WHO estimates that each year 400 thousand new cases of cancer are registered in children and adolescents.
- The most common types in this sector are leukemias, brain cancers, lymphomas, and solid tumors such as neuroblastoma and Wilms tumors.
- Money is the main drawback for families with affected children because medications are not cheap.
Childhood cancer remains the leading cause of death by disease in the population between five and 14 years of age. But as with tumors in adults, the most important thing to beat the disease is early detection and proper treatment. In this case, medications are essential, although they are not cheap at all. For this reason, to help affected families, the concept called Isabella’s Dinners.
Money does matter to save children’s lives
In the first instance, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that the probability of a child surviving a cancer diagnosis depends on the country in which they live. In high-income hospitals, more than 80% of patients are cured. While in the others the figure varies between 30 and 50%.
These lower survival rates in low- and middle-income countries may be explained by late diagnosis. The inability to make an accurate diagnosis, the lack of access to treatment and the abandonment of therapeutic guidelines also have an influence. Improving access to childhood cancer care, including essential drugs and technologies, is highly cost-effective, feasible, and can improve survival rates in all settings.
In this sense, during the last years Mexico has faced a serious problem that still has not been completely solved. It is about the shortage of oncological drugs for children. It is a situation that has become evident in the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) and has provoked mobilizations of parents.
An idea with cause to avoid other tragedies
As a result of this situation, the concept called Isabella’s Dinners. It consists of an altruistic event that seeks to raise funds to make a donation to the Fundación de tu mano for the purchase of medicines and treatments for Kids with cancer.
In that sense, the idea derives from an unfortunate fact. The death of little Isabella due to cancer encouraged her parents to prevent this situation from happening to other families. Because the economic factor is one of the main barriers, they created this project to raise money.
The date chosen for this event is July 14, 2022, precisely when the little girl would have turned eight. In her honor, a three-course dinner will be held at La Mallorquina San Ángel at 7:00 p.m. In addition, there will also be flamenco tablao, one of the passions that the young woman practiced.
The most important thing is that part of the proceeds will be donated for the purchase of medicines for children with cancer. To learn more about this initiative and purchase tickets for the dinner you can check this link.
Most common sequelae of childhood cancer
On the other hand, these types of ideas are highly relevant because tumors usually leave sequelae in patients. According to the ISSSTE Childhood Cancer Survivors Clinicthe most frequent of this pathology are: short stature, visual disturbances, scoliosis, obesity, limb hypotrophy, gynecological disorders, learning disorders, enucleation, anxiety and depression.
They may also have limb amputation, ovarian failure, hearing loss, hemiparesis, diabetes insipidus, sterility, osteoporosis or bone demineralization, low weight, epilepsy, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome.
For all of the above, projects such as Isabella’s Dinners are of great relevance. Patients not only need medications for a short period of time, but sometimes the treatments last for years.