Childhood cancer recovery rates improving

Cancer in children remains rare in Luxembourg but survival rates have never been better, it emerged at an event to mark International Childhood Cancer day on Wednesday.

In an evening marked by positivity at the Kirchberg hospital, childhood cancer experts, researchers and parents of childhood cancer sufferers united to celebrate advances in treatment and support.

“Today we've a survival rate for childhood cancer between 80 and 90 per cent,” said Homburg hospital Paediatric Oncology director Professor Dr Norbert Graf, adding: “I believe that one of the reasons for this success story is the integration of politicians, social teams and research teams.”

Dr Graf, who has worked in the field for 30 years, conducted clinical trials for kidney tumours in children resulting in the availability of ground-breaking treatment around the world.

At the evening event, he explained his current project using computer technology to simulate trials of treatments on individual patients. The 15 million euro project, is funded by the European Commission to the tune of 13 million euros.

“This is where I strongly believe that the future will go,” he said.

Dr Marc Diederich Phd described his work, heading a team of 30 scientists at the Kirchberg hospital laboratory to explore the effects of a natural compound on childhood cancers affecting the nervous system.

He applauded the work of Luxembourg-based parents' group Een Häerz fir kriibskrank Kanner, which organised the evening. “Most of the time, parents are panicking to some extent. They might think when a child is diagnosed with cancer that things are like they were 60 years ago. That is not true.

“There are still many parents in Luxembourg with cancer sick children who ignore the existence of the parents association here. It's run by parents to help other parents.”

Speeches were interspersed with musical presentations and a chance to view a photographic exhibition by Nicolas Schmitt exploring the theme of happiness.

Health minister Mars di Bartolomeo concluded the event. As a father of a child who had cancer, he empathised with other parents, calling for modesty and unity among doctors and researchers to pool efforts to find suitable treatments.

“It's motivating to see how many people are here tonight. Here are people who show it's worth fighting,” he said.