100 children in BiH diagnosed with cancer annually, most in Tuzla Canton

(Patria) - The Association "Heart for Children with Cancer" announced that they welcomed another International Childhood Cancer Day with joy. This year, we are marking it
with the slogan "Monitoring Treatment Consequences, Strengthening the Future!", with the aim of raising public awareness and better understanding the difficulties faced by children with malignant diseases, as well as their families.

On the occasion of this day, the Association "Heart for Children with Cancer" organized a gathering with a theatre performance in cooperation with the Youth Theatre Tuzla, for children undergoing treatment at the Department of Hematology and Oncology of the University Clinical Center Tuzla.

The gathering was held at the Parental House Tuzla, a place where children and families spend their happiest days during the most difficult moments of their lives. The gathering was attended by 17 families of children with malignant diseases, and the medical team from the hemato-oncology department, with whom they are walking towards recovery, was also present.

In addition to the play, an exhibition of children's drawings was organized as a sign of support from children to children, in cooperation with the Public Institution for Preschool Education and Upbringing "Our Child" – kindergarten group Poletarac.

Through cultural activities and gatherings, we are returning a piece of childhood to children that is put aside due to the difficult and complex treatment of malignant diseases. We empower them, restore hope and smiles. We restore hope for a better tomorrow and that life exists during and after malignant diseases.

At this very event, we witnessed numerous smiles, children's joy, and fun. Exactly as their lives should be.

1% of the world's child population is diagnosed with some type of cancer, classifying them as rare diseases. Over 400,000 children worldwide are diagnosed with malignant diseases annually, and in Bosnia and Herzegovina, this number is around 100 children. In FBiH, this figure ranges between 55 and 60 children annually.

The largest number of affected children come from Tuzla Canton, with 12-18 new cases annually. Positively, the cure rate in BiH is around 80%. The most common disease is acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which is also the most successfully treated in about 80-85% of cases.