In commemoration of the 2022 world literacy and pediatric cancer day, Ikeja Unique Lions Club sensitised students of Ogudu Junior High School on how to fight menace of childhood cancer.

The club also donated learning materials to the school as a means of supporting their learning activities.

President of the club, Lion Abiodun Francis Wilkey explained that the club, which is about humanitarian services, felt the need to take the message to school children because of their level of assimilation and knowledge in related subjects taught in school.

“They are the level of people you can get to understand the message you are trying to pass.

“Their level of assimilation is high and they can understand what we have just said because they are being taught biology, chemistry and these kinds of subjects enable them to understand what we are telling them about cells, cancer and all that.”

Read Also: ‘My near-death experience with breast cancer’

The Speaker, Dr. James Banjoko who spoke on topic: “Early sign, symptoms of childhood cancer” explained that Childhood cancer is a leading cause of death in children.

He stated that caring for children with cancers have very significant emotional trauma and financial drain on parents and care givers of these children, hence the need for awareness.

“In 80% of cases, a child’s cancer diagnosis is delayed until the disease is very advanced and has spread to other parts of the body. As a stark comparison, this only occurs in 20% of adult cancer cases. Childhood cancers tend to be more aggressive than adult cancers, so this late diagnosis can significantly affect the 5-year survival probability of the child

“Each year, approximately 400,000 children and adolescents of 0-19 years old are diagnosed with cancer”

While highlighting the 12 major types of cancer that are prevalent to children, Dr. James explained that Leukemias (cancer in the blood) and brain tumors account for more than half of all cases.

“The most common cancers of children are: Leukemia, Brain and spinal cord tumors, Neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, Lymphoma (including both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin), Rhabdomyosarcoma, Retinoblastoma, Bone cancer (including osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma). Leukemia is the most prevalent one and the median age at diagnosis is six years old”

“The symptoms include: Change in bowel or bladder habits, sore that does not heal, unusual bleeding or discharge, thickening or lump in the breast or elsewhere, indigestion or difficulty in swallowing, obvious change in a wart or mole, nagging cough or hoarsenes, fatigue.”