### Primary Article: 70% of Childhood Cancer Diagnoses Are in Advanced Stages
In a shocking statistic, 70% of childhood cancer cases are detected only at advanced stages. This stark revelation underscores the critical need for early detection and awareness among educators and healthcare professionals in Tijuana.
Mario Alberto Ornelas Sánchez, head of the Pediatric Oncology Department at the Hospital General de Tijuana (HGT), emphasized the absence of early-stage cancer screening tests for children, unlike the tests available for adults. To combat this issue, specialists aim to train regional teachers to recognize early warning signs in students.
“We need to be considered and join forces,” said Ornelas Sánchez. Collaborating with the state’s Department of Education, the plan is to expand existing cooperation to include thousands of teachers in the child cancer detection effort.
HGT boasts a 76% success rate in treatments involving chemotherapy, surgeries, and radiation therapy, complemented by nutritional and therapeutic support. Notably, for certain subtypes of leukemia, the most common pediatric cancer, the hospital achieves a 90% cure rate comparable to first-world countries.
Leukemia, brain tumors, and lymphoma are the primary cancers affecting children, with advanced-stage cancer being the leading cause of mortality. Currently, the HGT has a high medication supply rate for its pediatric oncology unit, which manages 49 active patients and 350 in remission.
Additionally, the “Sigamos Aprendiendo” (Let’s Keep Learning) program ensures that children receiving treatment continue their education without falling behind. Educators from the Department of Education visit the hospital to provide lessons, facilitating a smooth transition back to school after treatment completion.
### Secondary Article: Efforts Increase to Combat Childhood Cancer with Educational Initiatives
In related news, global efforts to tackle childhood cancer have gained momentum. A significant initiative focuses on training school teachers to recognize early symptoms among students, potentially leading to earlier diagnoses and better outcomes for young patients.
For instance, in Mexico, the newly proposed “Healthy Schools” program is aimed at enhancing collaboration between the health and education sectors. This initiative seeks to empower teachers with the knowledge and tools needed to identify potential health issues early on.
Similar programs have been successful in countries like Sweden, where comprehensive health education is integrated into the school curriculum. Teachers are trained to notice subtle changes in students’ behavior and physical condition, leading to early medical consultations and, consequently, timely cancer diagnoses.
Moreover, in the United States, the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has launched an online training platform for educators, providing resources and guidelines on spotting early signs of pediatric cancers. Initiatives like these are crucial as they directly contribute to increasing early detection rates, thereby significantly improving survival rates for affected children.
Through such collaborative efforts globally, the overarching goal remains clear: to reduce the percentage of childhood cancers diagnosed at advanced stages and improve the survival and quality of life for young patients.