🌍 Survivors Speak: A Message to Global Leaders 🌍

🗣️ A Call to Action for Global Leaders
Childhood cancer survivors, and the families who stand beside them, urgently call on you, the leaders of the world, to take bold and immediate action. The journey of a childhood cancer survivor doesn’t end with remission. It often leads to a lifetime of challenges that go beyond the hospital bed and into every aspect of their lives. Global leaders must:

• End stigma and misconceptions about childhood cancer.

• Ensure equal access to high-quality, innovative treatments for every child, everywhere, regardless of their socioeconomic status or geographic location.

🔬 Prioritize Pediatric Cancer Research
Childhood cancer is not just another health issue; it’s an urgent crisis that demands global attention.

• Increase funding for pediatric cancer research and ensure that innovative treatments are accessible worldwide.

• Collaborate across borders to drive global solutions for childhood cancer care, with a focus on early diagnosis and personalized treatment.

💡 Strengthen Long-Term Care and Survivorship
For many childhood cancer survivors, the battle doesn’t end after treatment. Survivors often face lifelong health issues stemming from the treatments they endured.

• Establish and improve Long-Term Follow-Up (LTFU) care to ensure survivors have access to ongoing care for potential health complications.

• Recognize the need for socioeconomic support, as many survivors continue to face financial barriers in their day-to-day lives, limiting their access to education, healthcare, and opportunities.

💬 A Global Commitment to Equity
It is essential that we, as a global community, prioritize equity in healthcare. No child should be left behind in the fight against cancer. We urge global leaders to:

• Address discrimination and insurance issues that restrict access to life-saving treatments.

• Implement policies and frameworks that provide equal opportunities and protection for childhood cancer survivors, empowering them to thrive in their personal and professional lives.

🤝 Together, We Can Make a Difference
As survivors and advocates, we ask you to amplify our voices and ensure that the needs of childhood cancer survivors are a priority in your policymaking. By coming together, we can build a future where every child diagnosed with cancer receives the care they deserve, and every survivor is supported in their journey to heal, grow, and thrive.

The time to act is now.