The overwhelming problem of childhood cancer in Mexico

Childhood cancer is the second cause of mortality of the population between 4 and 15 years. More than 20 million new cases of cancer in the world are expected by the year 2025, and 80% of the load will be on countries of low to middle income. In the past two decades, significant changes have been observed in patterns of incidence, prevalence, survival, and childhood cancer mortality in Mexico. An extensive review of all the published studies in Mexico by various health institutions revealed a steady 18-year trend of 150 new cases/million/year. The prevalence showed that acute leukemias constitute a 50% of all childhood cancer cases, followed by lymphoma (Hodkin and non-Hodgkin), and primary malignant brain tumors. A significant survival rate was observed in 8 thousand children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia with an overall 5-year survival rate of 62%, with a range of 45 to 73%. The national mortality rate for all types of cancer was 5.2/100,000/year, which is higher than what is reported in most middle-income countries. In the face of the current results, the need arises to modify how we approach this group of diseases by integrating a socio-educational healthcare of the Mexican children who are currently treated under unfavorable conditions. The current sanitary authorities must be aware of the importance of the transmission and adjustment of the care received by children with these diseases at a national level, to be in line with international standards. KEYWORDS: Childhood Cancer, Morbidity, Mortality, leukemia, lymphoma