SIOP Childhood Cancer Early Diagnosis & Appropriate Referral (CEDAR) Project

by Dr. Muhammad Saghir Khan (Chair, SIOP Education and Training Committee), on behalf of the SIOP Education and Training Committee and IPA SAG on NCD 

Disparity in survival rates

With the advent of multimodality therapy and supportive care, survival outcomes for children and adolescents with cancer have exceeded 80% in high-income countries (HICs). On the contrary, reported survival rates are much lower in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), where nearly 90% of children with cancer reside. 

Fundamental role of early diagnosis

Early diagnosis plays a fundamental role in pediatric oncology because it allows an opportunity for timely treatment while the disease is still in its earlier stages, resulting in better chances of cure. Diagnostic delay in childhood cancer is a significant problem in LMICs which leads to high rates of advanced disease at presentation. Moreover, health system barriers to access care and inconsistent referral networks lead to substantial underdiagnosis of cancer with cancer, as it is estimated that 50% of children with cancer are never diagnosed in LMICs.

Some of the main factors for diagnostic delays include:

• Lack of early recognition of symptoms and signs of childhood cancer among healthcare providers

• Barriers to access prompt consultations and referrals to higher levels of care

Healthcare providers must have appropriate knowledge and training to identify children with the suspicion of cancer at the earliest possible stage. Subsequently, patients suspected of having cancer should undergo diagnostic tests and staging studies at an appropriate diagnostic facility.

Launch of the CEDAR Project

SIOP is glad to announce the launch of the “SIOP Childhood Cancer Early Diagnosis and Appropriate Referral (CEDAR) Project”, in collaboration with the International Pediatric Association (IPA). The main objective of CEDAR is to improve the knowledge and understanding of general health care providers, including pediatricians, family practitioners, and community nurses, involved in the initial care, diagnostic workup, and referral of pediatric patients suspected of having cancer.

Practical advice from oncology experts from around the world

By providing practical advice from oncology experts from around the world, we aim to improve the outcomes of children and adolescents with cancer in resource-limited settings where delayed diagnosis, misdiagnosis, and underdiagnosis significantly impact cancer-related morbidity and mortality. In the first phase of the CEDAR project, SIOP and IPA are organizing a series of monthly webinars (September 2022 to March 2023) to highlight the importance of early diagnosis, with a focus on the six WHO index cancers (acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Hodgkin lymphoma, Burkitt’s lymphoma, Wilms tumor, retinoblastoma, and low-grade glioma). There will also be a discussion session with an international expert panel in each of these webinars.

Free webinars open to everyone

These webinars are free to attend and open to everyone. Each CEDAR webinar is accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME) with 1 credit point. The recordings of these meetings will be published on the SIOP website. The list of the webinars with their titles and dates is as follows:

Webinar 1: 9th September 2022
Outcomes of childhood cancers: Gaps and Disparities to be Addressed
Webinar 2: 14th October 2022
Diagnosis and Referral of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Webinar 3: 18th November 2022
Diagnosis and Referral of Retinoblastoma 
Webinar 4: 16th December 2022
Diagnosis and Referral of Low-Grade Glioma
Webinar 5: 20th January 2023
Diagnosis and Referral of Hodgkin Lymphoma
Webinar 6: 3rd February 2023
Diagnosis and Referral of Burkitt’s Lymphoma
Webinar 7: 10th March 2023
Diagnosis and Referral of Wilms Tumor

How to register

We encourage Pediatricians, Family Practitioners, Community Nurses, and Surgeons to register for the opening Webinar on 9th September 2022 by clicking the following link or using the QR code.

SIOP is offering simultaneous Spanish Translation for this webinar. For queries or further information, please visit www.siop-online.org/cedar or email info@siop-online.org.

Dr. Muhammad Saghir Khan is a pediatric oncologist from Pakistan. He is the Chair of the SIOP Education and Training Committee and the SIOP CEDAR Project. He is also serving as a Co-Chair of SIOP Global Health Network, and a member of the SIOP Board of Directors. He has actively been involved in the Pediatric Oncology East Mediterranean group (POEM) since its inception. He is also a member of the Executive Council of the Asian Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Group (APHOG).