February 15, International Childhood Cancer Day

As we mark this year’s International Childhood Cancer Day, please consider joining the World Community Grid who are also seeking to find childhood cancer treatments.

Every year, more than 400,000 children and adolescents below 20, are diagnosed with cancer. The rate of survival depends on the region, with 80% survival in most High Income Countries but as low as 20% only in Low and MIddle Income Countries.

The Target Goal of the WHO Global Childhood Cancer Initiative is to eliminate all pain and suffering of children fighting cancer and achieve at least 60% survival for all children diagnosed with cancer around the world by 2030.

This represents an approximate doubling of the current cure rate and will save an additional one million children’s lives over the next decade.

The ICCD logo and all campaign material are the intellectual property of Childhood Cancer International (CCI) and confirmed partners for use of members of CCI and confirmed partners to promote awareness and advocacy of childhood cancer. For other users, please contact admin@cci.care to seek for permission of use from CCI.

You can find the artwork for the ICCD logo, as well as custom posters, graphs and social media tools, specifically created for member organizations to use in the event planning process to raise awareness about the need to eliminate pain and suffering of children with cancer.

February 15th is International Childhood Cancer Day – PLEASE HELP

2026 CCI Annual Conference HERE

The International Confederation of Childhood Cancer Parent Organizations (ICCCPO), World Child Cancer and the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) have issued a joint statement to coincide with International Childhood Cancer Day (15 February) highlighting the fact that these organizations are joining forces in the fight against a lack of awareness of childhood cancer.

Although cancer in children is a small fraction of the global cancer burden most of them can be cured if prompt and essential treatment is available, approximately 80% of the deaths will occur in resource-constrained settings as appropriate treatment is not available or affordable.

While there have been great advances made in the treatment of childhood cancer and subsequent improvements in survival rates, it is unfortunate that this has not reached the majority of children diagnosed with cancer annually.

“To improve upon this situation, ICCCPO, World Child Cancer and UICC are developing international medical partnerships to improve diagnosis and treatment. Through the sharing of vital expertise and skills and the utilisation of valuable support from doctors in resource-rich countries, these combined efforts are already saving lives and reducing suffering.” says Julie Torode, deputy CEO, UICC.

In the developed world children on average have a 75% chance of surviving cancer, however the situation in low- and middle-income countries, which accounts for 80% of the global incidence of childhood cancer, is very different, with only 20% of those that do receive treatment surviving as appropriate treatment is not available or affordable.

“The majority of children in the world who suffer from childhood cancer will die undiagnosed. This is largely due to the lack of awareness that some cancers are curable, poor access to information, late or no detection and lack of effective treatment”, says Benson Pau chairperson of ICCCPO.

Over the past years, ICCD has highlighted barriers, amplified voices, and inspired action across countries and communities.

Now, ICCD 2026 focuses on impact.

Under the theme “Demonstrating Impact: From Challenge to Change,” we will showcase progress, real-world results, and the difference our global community is making to improve access to childhood cancer care. This final year is about showing what is possible when patients, families, advocates, healthcare teams, and organisations work together toward a common goal.

Our collective mission remains clear: to advance equality in access to care for every child with cancer, everywhere.

On 15th February this year, organizations from across the globe will be participating in International Childhood Cancer Day, to raise awareness of the plight of children living with cancer and the imbalances that exist between the quality of care provided to children with cancer in the developed world as compared to the developing world.

“It is one of the saddest experiences to witness children and their parents in under-resourced wards unable and unmotivated to fight the battle any longer, just waiting in despair for the inevitable to happen, knowing that with funding from those able to help the outcome could be so different.” says a volunteer helping in a children’s cancer ward.

Should you wish to help contact can be made with the organizations as follows:

ICCCPO – www.icccpo.org

Children have the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health.

PARENTS EXPERIENCE

The International Confederation of Childhood Cancer Parent Organizations established International Childhood Cancer Day in 2002 to raise global public awareness about childhood cancer.