 Children
in Need
 Colombia is one of the countries
with the highest incidence
and mortality from cancer
in children. On average,
each year 2,081
new cases of cancer are detected
in children from birth to
15 years, with an incidence
of 22.2 per 100,000 infants.
Most of the cases submitted
are for leukemia and lymphoma.
Unfortunately, for these
children the recovery rate
is only 50%. It is estimated
that 30% of children with
cancer leave the treatment
and 20% experience relapse
of the disease.
Indeed, as mortality
rates reveal,
cancer is the second leading
cause of infant death in
the Colombia (Source: Colombiana
de Hemato - Oncología Pediatric
Association, the National
Cancer Institute and Colombian
League Against Cancer, 2007;
DANE 2000-2002; Globocan
2002).
Testimonials from Children
Alicio does
not see his family for eleven
years when he was brought
to Bogota because of his
illness: "I lived
with my dad and my grandmother.
When I was hospitalized for
the disease in Ubaté. I was
three years old. My dad came
and said: 'We return in fifteen
days' ... and never returned."
Camilo: "Cancer
changed my life. Before I
was cheerful and happy. Now
I am bitter. A month ago
my leg was amputated because
doctors put me to choose:
my leg or my life. After
that I felt a lot of sadness
and boredom, and did not
want to talk to anybody.
I did not want anyone to
see me like this. Now I am
more stable ... but it is
not easy."
 Teresita cares
about accurately
portraying her image on paper,
taking into account the impact
that the disease has had
on her physical appearance: "Look
at me, how well am I that
I have moles? Can I miss
one for my painting? I am
a little inflamed by the
chemotherapy."
Alicia
(14 years, leukemia):
"I associate the disease
with the word pain ... because
what you see is pain, nothing
more. Pain physical, mental
... Both in one as the other. "
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