EACH YEAR IN Ireland over 200 children under the age of 19 are diagnosed with cancer.
Today marks the first anniversary of International Childhood Cancer Day – which raises awareness of the issues surrounding childhood cancer.
In recent months such cases have been brought to the public’s attention as parents of sick children struggle to deal with medical bills.
Lucy O’Connor is one such case – the 9-year-old has not received a medical card despite being diagnosed with cancer.
She was refused a card on the grounds that her parents were over the means limit. However, her mother Angela told TheJournal.ie that even though the family were previously over the means limit, she has since had to give up her full-time job to care for Lucy.
In another case, the parents of a 4-year-old boy fighting life threatening cancer said they were being pursued by a debt collector on behalf of the HSE after they were told they would not receive a discretionary medical card.
Mary Claire Rennick from the Childhood Cancer Foundation said the day will raise awareness “of the importance of early diagnosis, the difficulties, physical and emotional, that children face throughout treatment and the long term side effects of the harsh treatment regiments.
While Ireland has excellent staff to care for our children the strain on resources in the health service in the last 5 years has also had an impact on children affected by cancer.
Last year the parents of 5-year-old Lily-Mae Morrison had to raise over €420,000 to help fund treatment in America which is not available in Ireland – after their daughter was diagnosed with a rare and extremely aggressive cancer.
The Gold Ribbon is the international symbol of childhood cancer and Childhood Cancer Foundation volunteers will be selling the gold ribbon pins across the country today.
Rennick added that, “Our goal is not just fundraising but also awareness…increased awareness will increase funding for services and research which will improve conditions for all this affected by this disease.”
More information can be found at childhoodcancer.ie.
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