Early detection of cancer can save lives, and this Saturday, February 4, World Cancer Day is celebrated to raise awareness of the disease. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the way patients have been able to access their GPs, causing delays and waiting lists that put many lives at risk.
In the first year of the pandemic, there was also a similar drop in cancer-related funding, and one of the sectors most affected was cancer prevention. According to the Spanish Association Against Cancer, one in two men and one in three women will have cancer throughout their lives.
Paula Rodríguez, who works with the Galbán Association, a group that supports families with children with cancer in Spain, points out that childhood cancer is a rare disease that can initially manifest with the same symptoms as other common childhood diseases. This makes it difficult to diagnose, and in many cases the disease is detected at very advanced stages, which worsens the child’s prognosis.
Early detection of childhood cancer is a “dream,” Rodriguez adds, that one day it may be possible. For this reason, it is important to raise awareness and encourage people to get regular cancer screenings, as this can save lives. On World Cancer Day, let us all remember that early detection is the key to beating cancer.
