Cancer in children is very rare with an annual effect of 140 to 155 per million (age <15 years). This translates as a new diagnosis of cancer in every 7,000 children per year.

Despite its rarity it is considered a very important cause of serious morbidity and death. Cancer remains the most common cause of death after accidents in children with 23% of total mortality despite significant progress in diagnosis, treatment and survival.

Improvement of survival rates

The introduction of chemotherapy in the 1960s allowed the use of new therapeutic approaches in combination with surgical approach and radiotherapy.

This resulted in childhood cancer from deadly disease in pre-chemotherapy period dramatically improving survival rates from 20-30% in the 1960s to 62% in the 1980s and today at 85% while in the 2020s it is expected to exceed 90%.

Significant risks after cancer cure

Cancer cure after 5 years of survival without disease does not mean that the rest of life is “fairytale” because treatment results in serious and significant future risks to personal life and health of those who have recovered and even in an impressive number!

Up to 75% of them are expected to have serious and significant distant consequences of treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, bone marrow transplantation, and/or surgery) years or decades after it.

The ultimate consequences and effects on the lives of recovered

The “ultimate consequences” have a significant impact on health but also on the social and emotional competence of the recovery. In addition to the burden on their daily quality of life, they seek more frequent health benefits and have increased educational needs.

To date, childhood cancer recovered in Europe is estimated at 500,000 and this number is increased by 12,000 annually. It is therefore necessary to adequately care for long monitoring with the aim of identifying and immediate and urgent treatment of all health problems.

Regular and systematic monitoring is considered very important in order for the emerging distant complications to be diagnosed, treated at an early stage, and some to be prevented.

In developed countries, it is estimated that about 1 in 600 young adults aged 20 to 39 are recovered by childhood and adolescence. Due to the ever -increasing number with special medical needs, many international groups propose systematic, specialized and basis for long -term care evidence at national and international level. This is very important for the prevention, or early detection of relapse, second malignancy and other psychosocial and health problems.

However, the implementation of these programs is still incomplete in many countries, including Greece, and this lack is a huge problem today.

Cancer winners (NIKA) in MITERA

MITERA’s oncology Center of Children & Adolescents has set up and operate a personalized medical clinic for childhood and adolescent cancer. Recovered young people have the opportunity to visit the doctors of various specialties with this program and to undergo the necessary clinical, hematological and imaging examinations, after referring to the NIKA clinic.
Upon completion of the check, a personalized tracking program is prepared. During the first visit we perform a complete check-up, and through personal contact-interview we complete the personal questionnaire of each recovery.

The purpose of the Cancer winners clinic is:

  • Execution of exams to confirm the ongoing recession (if needed)
  • Control for chronic health problems associated with treatment
  • The discussion of cancer history and potential future dangers
  • The help to adapt to life as a recovery
  • Providing Life style advice to stay healthy in the future
  • Referral to specialized health providers depending on health problems

Among the visits to the NI.KA clinic there is continuous telephone or electronic communication with the program manager for any problem daily and at any time.

The help is ongoing, whether it is a problem related to previous treatment or related to the daily life and quality of life of the recovery.

The goal for the future

The program is in direct interconnection with the corresponding European (Pancare FU) and our efforts are to record and supervise as much as possible as possible until the state officially accepts the problem as a direct priority and creates the corresponding structures with full insurance coverage of recovery.

The 2030 strategic plan is the roadmap for a brighter future for children and adolescents with cancer in Europe and aims to increase healing rates in the next decade (> 90%), improving the quality of life in survivors and in 10 years of free disease but also.