Doha: Qatar Cancer Society has launched an awareness campaign to coincident with the "Childhood Cancer Awareness Month" which falls in September each year, and aims at raising public awareness of cancer, educating families and strengthening the role of society in support of children infected with the disease.
Director-General of Qatar Cancer Society Mariam Hamad Al Nuaimi said that cancer is considered the second cause of death in children after accidents, according to global statistics, especially that the causes of childhood cancer are often unknown but there are a number of factors that increase the risk, such as the exposure to excessive radiation or ultraviolet radiation, smoking during pregnancy or pre-fertilization period and others.
Al Nuaimi noted that the Qatar Cancer Society is keen to reach all segments of society by launching awareness campaigns and activities that address all groups and ages.
In a related context, Qatar Cancer Society said that leukemia (bone marrow and blood cancers) is the most common type of cancer in children, while brain tumors and the central nervous system come second.
The Society stressed the importance of protecting children by taking a range of measures, such as reducing radiation exposure during pregnancy and focusing on breastfeeding for at least 6 months and to ensuring that all required vaccinations are given.
It also called to help children adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes healthy eating habits, exercise to maintain a healthy weight, replacing unhealthy snacks with fruits, vegetables and nuts, encouraging children to play active games rather than electronic games.
The Cancer Society also stressed the importance of early detection, which contributes to enhance the chance of recovery from the disease through periodic medical examinations of children and attention to any signs early and report to the doctor, especially for those most vulnerable to the disease.
