Salute: eliminare le disparità di cura dei minori malati di tumore

New European standards aim to eliminate disparities in medical care for children and adolescents with cancer. The European Standards of Care for Children and Adolescents with Cancer seeks to ensure that young cancer patients receive the same level of treatment regardless of which European country they live in.

Developed by the European Society for Paediatric Oncology Europe (SIOPE) and Childhood Cancer International – Europe (CCI-E), the 130-page document updates a 2008 edition. Pediatric oncologists, young professionals, and patient representatives authored the text. The guidelines cover the entire oncological process, including diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, palliative care, and cross-border collaboration. Seven core pillars guide the document, such as hospital ward organization and the use of multidisciplinary teams.

The Federation Italiana Associazioni Genitori e Guariti Oncoematologia Pediatrica (FIAGOP) translated the text with supervision from the Associazione Italiana di Ematologia e Oncologia Pediatrica (AIEOP). These organizations began distributing the guidelines to oncology facilities during Settembre d’Oro, an annual awareness campaign for pediatric cancer.