The messages regarding the treatment of childhood cancer in our country are optimistic, according to the data of the Children’s Oncology Unit “Marianna V. Vardinogianni-ELPIDA” and the Association “ELPIDA-Association of Friends of Children with Cancer” published on the occasion of World Cancer Day of Childhood Cancer, which is celebrated every year on February 15th.

For the first time in Greece, at the “Cell and Gene Therapy Center for Children and Adolescents”, genetically modified cells were prepared for the treatment of resistant acute lymphoblastic leukemia for two patients, giving them hope.

Three out of four children who are ill and receive treatment at the “Marianna V. Vardinogiannis-ELPIDA” Children’s Oncology Unit, i.e. 80%, are cured, and around 70 children per year undergo Bone Marrow Transplantation with very high success rates.

In Greece, approximately 300 to 350 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer annually. The most common forms of cancer are leukemias, brain tumors, sarcoma, lymphoma and neuroblastoma.

The majority of newly diagnosed cancer cases, around 80%, come to the Children’s Oncology Unit “Marianna V. Vardinogiannis – ELPIDA” for treatment. In the last decade there have been 40,776 hospitalizations, 183,950 day hospitalizations and a total of 1,402 transplants.

“The statistics published today allow us to be optimistic. But we don’t stop here. Our goal remains to save the lives of all children. May 4 of our 4 children become good. For this reason, we make sure that our Oncology Unit continues to function smoothly, remaining at the forefront of dealing with childhood cancer by supplying the best and most modern machines, by training our medical and nursing staff, in every way and means which is required to stand by the side of the little children who need us”, the president of the “ELPIDA-Association of Friends of Children with Cancer” Marianna V. Vardinogiannis tells AMPE. “Today’s World Childhood Cancer Day is for us much more than a day on a calendar: It is a day of responsibility to continue supporting children with cancer, a day of love for children and their families, a day of honor for scientists, doctors and nurses who have dedicated their lives to the fight against childhood cancer. Beyond and above all, it is a day of hope because childhood cancer must and can be defeated!”, underlines Mrs. Vardionoyannis.

For his part, the joint administrator of the Children’s Hospitals “P.&A. KYRIAKOU” and “AGIA SOFIA” Manolis Papasavvas emphasizes: “February 15, World Day against Childhood Cancer. A public awareness day on childhood cancer issues, dedicated to our little heroes. Annually, approximately 280 children with cancer are admitted to the “Marianna V Vardinogianni” Children’s Oncology Unit for treatment. Thanks to the valuable and long-term support of the ELPIDA Association and with the initiatives of Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinogiannis, our young patients receive advanced treatments in our departments, which have been recognized as European Centers of Expertise, with 80% of the children being treated. But today is also a day of hope and optimism, but also a promise, that we will not stop for a moment to fight together with the children so that every child can emerge victorious!”.