Childhood Cancer

Between 2020 and 2050, 11.1 million children will die from cancer if no additional investments are made to improve access to health-care services or childhood cancer treatment. Of this total, 9.3 million children (84.1%) will be in low-income and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs). The 5-year net survival rate for children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer is about 80% in many high-income countries, while only 20% of children can survive in some LMICs.

Advances in diagnose and treatment for childhood cancer have been remarkable over past decades including radiotherapy technologies. Since children are particularly sensitive to the side effects caused by radiation exposure, cutting-edge technologies (e.g., intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), proton therapy) are being more common nowadays in high-income countries. However, many LMICs do not have access to radiotherapy treatment, nor such state-of-the-art equipment This massive gap must be bridged.

The IAEA’s role in paediatric cancer is to contribute to Member States through cooperation projects and educational course offerings in collaboration with other international agencies and organizations.