WASHINGTON, CMC – On the occasion of International Childhood Cancer Day, observed every February 15, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) has launched a new interactive guide aimed at improving the early diagnosis of childhood cancer, one of the leading causes of death among children and adolescents in Latin America and the Caribbean.
“Early detection not only increases the chances of cure but also significantly improves the quality of life for patients and their families,” said Dr. Mauricio Maza, PAHO’s regional cancer advisor. “With this new tool, we aim to equip healthcare teams with the necessary tools to act quickly and effectively,” he added.
PAHO said that each year, an estimated 30,000 children and adolescents in Latin America and the Caribbean are diagnosed with cancer, and nearly 10,000 lose their lives to the disease.
While in high-income countries in the Americas, including the Caribbean, PAHO said more than 80 percent of children with cancer are cured. In the rest, the survival rate averages only 55 percent, PAHO said.
It said the new guide is part of the Global Childhood Cancer Initiative, which seeks to reduce disparities in cancer survival rates by helping save more lives through early detection.
Developed by PAHO in collaboration with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Latin American Society of Pediatric Oncology (SLAOP), the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP), and 130 regional experts, the material provides “a practical framework for healthcare professionals to identify the signs and symptoms of cancer in its early stages.”
PAHO said that the guide takes a comprehensive approach and covers everything from initial assessment to symptom classification, providing specific actions to follow based on the severity of the case.
In this regard, PAHO said the guide classifies care into three levels of urgency: Red (Immediate) For children with severe symptoms, immediate referral to a hospital with pediatric emergency services is recommended; Yellow (Priority) For less urgent but still critical cases, patients should be referred within 48 to 72 hours; and Green (Scheduled): For cases that require further diagnostic studies, which can be scheduled.
“The implementation of this guide will not only optimize diagnostic times but also help reduce the long-term complications associated with delayed treatments,” emphasized Dr. Liliana Vásquez Ponce, PAHO’s technical officer for childhood cancer.
PAHO said the guide also includes information on the most prevalent childhood cancers in the region, such as acute leukemias, central nervous system tumors, lymphomas, Wilms tumors, and retinoblastoma. It details the symptoms, clinical history, physical exams, and necessary complementary studies for each type.
Additionally, PAHO said the guide provides support tools, such as a glossary of medical terms and educational resources, to ensure healthcare professionals have the knowledge to implement best practices for early diagnosis.
PAHO said it also includes key public health indicators that will serve as benchmarks for health ministries and hospital directors, facilitating the monitoring and evaluating childhood cancer early detection programs.
In addition to the guide, PAHO said it offers a free course on its Virtual Public Health Campus, designed to provide more in-depth training on early childhood cancer diagnosis.
PAHO said the course aims explicitly at doctors and other healthcare workers, strengthening their ability to detect signs and symptoms in the earliest stages.
PAHO said this course covers key aspects such as risk factors, initial management, and interpretation of complementary exams, all from a primary care perspective.
In addition, PAHO said it is working through its Strategic Fund to expand access to essential cancer treatments, including pediatric formulations.
In collaboration with key partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO), St. Jude, and UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), PAHO said the region is progressing toward the global goal of increasing childhood cancer survival rates to at least 60 percent by 2030, to save one million lives among children and adolescents worldwide.
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