Childhood Cancer Survival Reaches 85%, Survivorship Needs Persist

Childhood cancer survival has improved, but recovery continues well beyond the end of treatment, with survivors and families often needing long-term emotional, social and medical support. In the United States, five-year survival for children with cancer has risen to about 85%, driven in part by sustained research funding, though survivorship can involve challenges such as returning to school, adjusting to physical changes and managing fear or uncertainty. Survivors and caregivers in Eswatini were urged to acknowledge these emotional experiences and seek support from trusted people and professionals rather than viewing them as signs of weakness. A separate Childhood Cancer Survivors Day gathering in Eswatini celebrated more than 100 survivors and families while highlighting that more than 400 children have been registered with cancer since 2016, emphasizing early detection and timely treatment as critical to improving outcomes.