Cuba: 80% of children are cured of leukemia

At least 80 percent of children with leukemia in Cuba have overcome this kind of cancer, said Dr. Sergio Machin, specialist II Degree in Hematology and head of the pediatric clinic of the Institute of Hematology and Immunology (IHI) in Havana.

Machin said that this achievement in health is only comparable with those of developed nations; and demonstrates the social impact of public policies implemented by the Cuban government to ensure the health of the people.

The specialist noted that acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) is one of the cancers treated by a protocol consisting of 14 nations, including several Latin American besides Cuba.

“There are several protocols in the IHI since the 70s when treating leukemias began and have been incorporating new forms of procedure that have reached the current which began in 2009 and has achieved this level of healing,” said the doctor.

On this point he stressed that the national network for the treatment of hematologic malignancies in children has seven medical centers across the country: two in Havana, Pinar del Rio and Villa Clara (northwest); Camaguey, Holguin and Santiago de Cuba (southeast).

Official figures estimate that Cuba diagnostic 70 cases of leukemia per year; of which 75 percent of cases and corresponds to cases treatable with great chance of recovery.What is leukemia?

It is a disease consisting of malignant cell proliferation by affecting the bone marrow to produce red, white blood cells, leukocytes and platelets.

It is not contagious or hereditary disease; although there is a genetic predisposition to the development of this kind of evil.