Leukemia accounts for 40% of childhood cancers in Armenia
80 to 100 childhood cancer cases are detected in Armenia annually. Leukemia accounts for 40% of cancer cases in children under the age of 18, the Ministry of Health said on Tuesday, February 15, observed as the International Childhood Cancer Day.
The patients are offered BFM therapy, which provides a recovery rate of 75-80%. Thus, the level of treatment meets the American and European standards and allows to provide patients with a high dose of chemotherapy, the ministry noted.
Since 2018, bone marrow autotransplantation has been carried out in Armenia. In addition, the methods used to diagnose cancer has increased, the health authorities said, adding now positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (PET-CT) is used in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
A palliative care service for children with cancer has also been launched in the country.
In 2021, 23 cancer drugs were purchased for the treatment of children and adolescents with oncohematological diseases.
The pediatric cancer treatment is provided free of charge in Armenia, the ministry added.