The childhood cancer problem is far from being solved, and SIOPE has been ceaselessly working to change this situation. Cancer is still a life threat for too many young patients: it is the first cause of death by disease for children in Europe, 1 out of 300 new-borns will develop cancer before turning 20, and every year around 6,000 young people die of cancer. In addition, most survivors from this disease will experience adverse side effects. The most pressing concerns can be summarised as follows:
- The paediatric cancer cure rate reached its plateau, a point where no major improvements in the survival rate are occurring any longer;
- Children and adolescents with cancer require treatment in cross-border clinical trials due to the limited numbers of patients with specific form of the disease within national borders. However, participation in such trials is often cumbersome, in large part due to the bureaucratic obstacles;
- While adult oncology is rapidly integrating innovative treatments in daily practice, progress in paediatric cancer treatments lags behind. Childhood cancer is not prioritised by the industry sector, and innovative therapies are very rarely developed. Research is thus mainly led by academia, but funding is not sufficient a nd treatments are often not adapted to age;
- There are major inequalities in access to quality treatment, expertise and follow-up across different European regions Furthermore, only a few national cancer plans have provisions specific to the disease in children and adolescents;
- Young survivors often face severe consequences for their growth and fertility: two thirds of the 300,000 childhood cancer survivors currently living in Europe suffer from treatment-related late-effects and require specialised follow-up care.
- Inequalities: Eradicating inequalities in access to treatment, care, and expertise
- Innovation: Boosting innovation in medicines development
- Survivorship: securing optimal organisation of follow up care for survivors