Eric Bouffet, MD at The Hospital for Sick Children, shared on LinkedIn:
“Six years, three terms, and one conviction: Cancer prevention starts in childhood.
Last Tuesday marked the Annual General Assembly of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), an important moment for an organization that plays a critical role in the global fight against cancer, through advocacy, prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, palliative care, and cancer staging.
For me, it also marked the end of a six-year journey, serving three terms on the UICC Board of Directors as a representative of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP).
It has been a tremendous honour and privilege, but also a challenge.
In a world where the vast majority of cancers occur in adults, finding a place for paediatric oncology at the table is not always easy.
But being a paediatrician is not only about treating children with cancer. It is also about preventing the cancers they might develop as adults.
Childhood is arguably the best time to start cancer prevention.
Throughout these six years, I have tried to advocate for early prevention: avoiding tobacco and alcohol, promoting healthy lifestyles to prevent obesity, and ensuring access to HPV and hepatitis B vaccination.
We know that nearly 40-50% of cancers could be prevented through effective prevention strategies.
Think about it. Almost half of all cancers could potentially be avoided!
And many of these interventions are remarkably affordable, particularly when compared with the enormous and often unaffordable costs of cancer treatment, which remain a major barrier to survival in low- and middle-income countries.
So why wait? Let’s start early. Prevention is a win-win investment for individuals, healthcare systems, and society.
I am particularly delighted that the next UICC Board will be led by a paediatrician, Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu.
I am confident that she will remember her roots and continue to ensure that children have a strong voice in the global cancer agenda.
I also want to congratulate Professor C. S. Pramesh on his election as President-Elect, and wish all the new members of the Board every success.
Pramesh, I will certainly miss our early morning runs in Geneva, Melbourne, Hong Kong, and so many other places around the world!
Like me, you know that the best conversations and ideas emerged during such runs.
To my colleagues on the Board and the wonderful UICC team, particularly Cary Adam, UICC CEO, and Philippe Guinot, Deputy CEO, but also the 3 amazing presidents during my terms, Prof. Anil D’Cruz, Prof. Jeff Dunn and Ulrika Årehed Kågström, thank you for six extraordinary years of collaboration, friendship, and shared commitment to a world where everyone has access to quality cancer care.
This is not a farewell. Just an au revoir.
My commitment to global oncology, particularly to children and families in low- and middle-income countries, remains as strong as ever.
There is still so much to do.”
Other articles featuring Eric Bouffet on OncoDaily.
