By Catherine McGeer
Copyright euroweeklynews
SEPTEMBER is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and this year’s campaign, ‘Back to School with Cancer,’ is focusing on how important education is for children during their recovery.
A golden ribbon in Murcia
The Department of Social Policy, Families and Equality has shown its support by hanging a large golden ribbon on its main building in Murcia. The gesture is part of an awareness drive led by Afacmur, the Association of Families of Children with Cancer in the Region of Murcia.
Education as a vital part of recovery
The campaign highlights the challenges many children face when illness keeps them out of the classroom. Some are able to return to school after treatment, while others continue their studies from home or hospital. Education, campaigners say, is not only a right but also a vital part of helping children move forward.
Working together across Spain
Afacmur is working with 22 other associations across Spain, coordinated by the Spanish Federation of Families of Children with Cancer, to make sure young patients can keep up with their studies. The campaign also aims to remind society of the need for continued progress in treatment and support.
Childhood cancer in Murcia and Spain
Every year, around 50 new cases of childhood cancer are diagnosed in Murcia, and about 1,500 across Spain. Survival rates are improving, now close to 85 per cent, but families still need strong support and understanding from the community.
Additional Statistics: Childhood cancer in Spain
Across Spain, there are roughly 1,500 children aged 0-18 diagnosed with cancer each year.
For children aged up to 14, incidence rates are estimated at around 155-156 cases per million children per year.
In the Valencian Community, the incidence for children and adolescents (0-19) is about 176 cases per million per year.
The cumulative lifetime risk of developing cancer among children aged 0-14 in certain Spanish regions is about 0.29 per cent for boys and 0.23 per cent for girls.
Survival rates have improved substantially: for example, five-year survival for childhood cancers in Spain is over 80-85 per cent in many reports.
Among cancer types:
Leukaemia is the most common, representing about 30 per cent of paediatric cancer cases.
Brain and central nervous system tumours are also frequent, accounting for approximately 20-22 per cent of childhood cancer mortalities.
Lymphomas make up about 12-15 per cent of cases.
Solid tumours (outside of CNS) include neuroblastoma (~ 8-10 per cent), soft tissue sarcomas, bone tumours, and renal tumours.
Mortality trends:
Childhood cancer is the leading cause of disease-related death in the 1-14 age group in Spain.
Over the decades, mortality rates have been declining, especially for leukaemia and brain tumours, thanks to better treatments and earlier diagnosis.
The golden ribbon in Murcia is more than just a symbol—it’s a reminder of the courage of young patients, the strength of their families, and the community’s role in standing beside them. Each step forward in awareness, research, and support brings hope for a brighter future where no child’s education or happiness is overshadowed by illness.
