“Most of the battles against childhood and teenage cancer can be won” says “K”after the meeting, Dr. Sophia Polichronopouloupediatric hematologist-oncologist and director-coordinator of the department of pediatric hematology-oncology (TAO) of the Children’s Hospital “Agia Sophia”, on the occasion world childhood day against cancer. In Greece, about 300 new cases of juvenile patients with malignant neoplasms are diagnosed each year. Among them, 30-35% have some form of leukemia, 20% have a tumor of the brain or the central nervous system in general, and the rest have various other solid malignancies. Four out of five children make a full recovery. “The progress made in the fight against almost all childhood neoplasms is progressing by leaps and bounds, since the 70s the survival rate of patients has increased from 30% to 40%,” explains Dr. Polychronopoulou. “The survival rate for acute lymphoblastic leukemia today is more than 85%, for Hodgkin’s lymphoma 85-90%, for Burkitt’s lymphoma 75%, when, in fact, patients who were previously diagnosed with lymphoma, i.e. Burkit had only a 40% chance of survival.”

When Dr. Polychronopoulou, currently President of the Hellenic Society of Pediatric Hematological Oncology (EEPAO), began her career in the 80s, pediatric oncology was in uncharted waters. “The medical world did not give children hope for survival, research had not yet turned to this area,” she recalls, “I made it my personal goal to change this mentality and approach.” Gradually, interest in pediatric oncology in the world increased, and we came to new scientific approaches.

International protocols

New therapeutic and diagnostic possibilities are now available in our country.

“Through the EEPAO and relevant medical departments, since 2000, we have been actively involved in international protocols, international initiatives and scientific organizations that advance medical research and promote early diagnosis and effective treatment with the least possible consequences.” New therapeutic and diagnostic possibilities (specialized molecular assays, targeted therapy, monoclonal antibodies, CAR-T cell therapy) and, more generally, precision medicine are now available in our country. “Indeed, when we have a corresponding request from the attending physician, we can discuss the case of a patient from Greece in international oncological councils, so that the family also has a second, documented opinion of colleagues from other centers in Europe or even the USA.”

The cost of a trip to Greece and the application of new therapeutic protocols is covered by “Flame“, the Association of Parents of Children with Tumor Diseases, which has been operating for 40 years. “We have allocated more than 5 million euros to equip hospitals, surgical departments, radiology and pathology departments”, President Mary Trifonidou reports to “K”.. The money comes from “many small donors.” Since 2013, Floga has taken on the salaries of doctors, especially pediatric oncologists, and has three dormitories for families of patients from the region.

National registry of children and adolescents with neoplasms, which has been operating for just over a year, was one of the goals of founding the city’s non-profit organization Karkinaki. This is a digital patient record required for continuous follow-up examinations. “When the treatment is successfully completed, we all think that the nightmare is over, but this is not entirely true,” the president says. Menia Koukuyannis. PTSD and possible learning difficulties are just some of the undiagnosed problems. “In seven years of work, we have created psychotherapeutic and educational groups for parents and children diagnosed with cancer.” The survivors, as they are called, will have to face many challenges in order to return to normal life.

Tablet and phone – a unique company

Little Philip, once a lover of the sea, did not swim at all, he wanted to be in the warmth of the sand and sleep the rest of the day. “A number of symptoms, such as many bruises on my legs, lack of appetite and vitality, alarmed me,” recalls his mother. Georgia Gagasoulis. “Philip was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, it was the worst version of the disease, we were given an 80% mortality rate.” Mom and son spend the next five months in the hospital, where doctors try to suppress the disease before proceeding with the transplant. The only company of an 8-year-old child is a tablet and a phone. His mother connects with the parents of neighboring wards, “with whom we have developed friendships for life,” he emphasizes. “During a unique 24-hour check-out, he asked me to come into his school, it just happened to be recess and all the kids came up to the railing and greeted him,” says Ms Gagasoulis.

At the next stage, the search for a suitable bone marrow donor begins, which is eventually found in Germany. A few days after the transplant, a young patient asks his mother for a favor: to give flowers and a gift to his beloved, who has supported him at a distance all this time, on Valentine’s Day. “When we return home, we live with very strict hygiene rules: the child drank sterile water and food that had been frozen before, we removed the curtains and carpets.” In the first year, they often go to the hospital and are discharged from it. “Philippos has celebrated five years since he was diagnosed in July, he is now officially a survivor.” He is trying to catch up at school, as is his mother, who returned to work in 2021.

Volunteering

A few months after the death of her daughter, who was diagnosed with leukemia but died of a nosocomial infection, Chara Papantonis returned to the Children’s Oncology Department “Agia Sophia”, this time as a volunteer from “Cancer”. “It was a great relief for me to be there and take care of another hospitalized child,” she says, who lost her daughter in May 2018. square, and we received visitors,” he recalls. “I often think about the parents who were there during the pandemic and the strict protocols.”

However, much of her energy is directed through “Cancer” to highlight the seriousness of nosocomial infections in pediatric oncology units and to educate patients and their caregivers to better protect themselves from germs. “These are extremely vulnerable patients who stay in the hospital for a long time,” said Ms Papantoni, who became a mother again four months ago.