Scottish Conservative and Unionist Lothian MSP, Jeremy Balfour, is calling on MSPs and the Scottish Government to help raise awareness of childhood cancer, the biggest cause of death in children in the UK.
Jeremy will host a debate in the Scottish Parliament today to discuss childhood cancer and Glow Gold September, an awareness raising campaign established by parents of children with cancer that aims to ensure the colour gold becomes synonymous with childhood cancer and its awareness month in September.
The motion being debated at Members Business has received cross party support.
Commenting Jeremy Balfour MSP said:
“Despite only being established in February, the Glow Gold September campaign has made tremendous strides in improving awareness of childhood cancer, with a number of iconic landmarks across Scotland glowing gold on the 1st September including Edinburgh Castle, St Andrews House, the Kelpies, Glasgow Cathedral and Marishal College.
“Cancer is rare in children but it is still the biggest cause of death in children in the UK, with around 130 children aged 0-14 diagnosed with cancer in Scotland every year. [1]
“Despite these statistics awareness amongst parents and GPs is low, with parents of children with cancer telling me it took on average four visits to a GP before their child was correctly diagnosed.
“If the symptoms of childhood cancer were better known, as they are for meningitis, diagnoses and subsequent treatment would be more effective.
“Children’s cancers are biologically very different from adult cancers and whilst the number of children surviving cancer has improved it’s crucial that we research the long-term effects of the treatments on their health and wellbeing, improve access to innovative medicines and overcome our fear of talking about childhood cancer.
“The only way to beat cancer in children is to continue to invest in vital research and to encourage the Scottish Government to continue to support the cancer charities as they work to gain more recognition of childhood cancers and treatments.”
[1] Based on the average annual number of new cases diagnosed in Scotland between 2012-2014