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rowing awareness about cancer in children leads to a higher number of cases being detected, which in return allows more parents to treat the disease from an early stage, experts say.

Each month the Indonesian Childhood Cancer Foundation (YOAI) receives new requests for funding for the treatment of children with cancer, foundation founder Kartika Purwanto said.

“We currently help fund treatments for around 450 children. Each month we see five new requests on average,” she told The Jakarta Post on Monday. Feb. 15 is commemorated as world childhood cancer day.

Last month, YOAI saw a notable increase of 12 requests, Kartika said.

Ira Soelistyo, the founder and secretary of The Care for Cancer Kids Foundation (YKAKI), said the apparent increase in numbers of children suffering from cancer was not necessarily bad news. It could be because of increasing awareness about the government’s healthcare system, she said.

“Perhaps the public is now more aware about the government’s Jamkesmas [health insurance program], so they are more confident in seeking help,” Ira said.

According to the World Childhood Cancer website, each year around the world approximately 250,000 children and teenagers are diagnosed with cancer, and 100,000 of those suffering from cancer die each year because of a lack of treatment.

It also mentions that four in five children with cancer in developing countries die from the disease, despite the fact that it is often curable.

According to data from 2005, there were 187 children between 0 and 17 years of age treated for various cancers at 26 hospitals in Jakarta.

Kartika said the number one cancer type affecting children in Indonesia was still blood cancer, including leukemia, with the second being retinoblastoma (eye cancer). Other cancers affecting children include neuroblastoma (nerve cancer) and bone cancer.

Lately, the foundation has witnessed an increase in cases of several uncommon cancers, including skin cancer and ovarian cancer, Kartika said.

Ira said that at present the exact causes of childhood cancer were unknown.

“Cancer can affect children in developed or developing countries. The causes could be pollution, but it is not known for sure,” she said.

Nevertheless, the disease’s mysterious nature is no reason to neglect or ignore it.

“Cancer in children cannot be avoided, but if detected early the chances of curing it are much higher than in adults,” Ira said.

However, some people apparently still lack knowledge about the disease and its treatment.

“Some parents are not aware of Jamkesmas... they are afraid that they must pay to get their children treated,” Kartika said.

She added that YOAI often encountered parents treating children who were in later stages of cancer. (dis)