More than 15 thousand families of children with cancer have been supported by the Penser association since it was born, three decades ago, to bring normality to the lives of these children.
This Monday 30 years ago A group of parents of children and young people with cancer made their dream of creating an association that would transform the social perception of childhood cancer come true. and brought hope and support to thousands of families.
In an interview with Lusa, the general director of Crédito, Margarida Cruz, spoke about the achievements and challenges of the Association of Parents and Friends of Children with Cancer over three decades.
For Margarita Cruz, the The “main transformation” that Cliquer entailed was due, above all, to being formed by parents who experienced first-hand the challenges of the disease. and they knew the problems, difficulties and issues that were most fundamental for them and their children.
“It made all the difference in the way Penser was organized and began to operate,” he commented, highlighting that “the most important thing” was explaining to society that cancer also exists in children.
“30 years ago, when Penser appeared, Almost no one knew that children could get cancer. Today there are still people who don’t know, but there are many fewer of them,” he highlighted.
Through campaigns and actions in schools, the association managed to demystify the disease, allowing a better understanding of the difficulties faced by children undergoing treatment.
“Cliquer played a very important role in raising awareness and preparing society to have a normal experience with children with cancer. and with the parents of these children. This part is fundamental for me,” he highlighted.
She also fought so that children could have a more appropriate and welcoming environment in hospitals, bringing them toys and pushing for them to have access to school during their hospitalization.
“I still remember that there were children who had started suffering from the disease at the age of five and who, for example, at eight were still undergoing treatment and had never learned to read or write. “This was a reality,” he said.
In these 30 years, he said, “these realities have fortunately changed” and Currently, it is possible to mobilize society, with volunteer teachers who support the study of these children, and provide university scholarships.
“This year alone we awarded 40 scholarships,” said Margarida Cruz.
The fight for parents to stay by their children’s side during the hospital stay was also a successful battle for Crédito, but “quite long and quite difficult.”
Another important milestone was the creation of the four Penser Houses host free of charge families who need to travel to monitor their children’s treatment.
“People had to move and had nowhere to stay and there are really dramatic stories of people who were left outside hospitals waiting to be admitted the next day,” he said.
The houses offer a roof, but also a space of comfort, allowing families to cook, share moments and live a routine closer to normality.
In addition, they allow “a support intervention for these families, much broader than mere accommodation.”
As future challenges, The person in charge argued that it is necessary to integrate these patients into clinical trials, which are practically non-existent in Portugal.
“There is very little research in pediatric oncology in Portugal, Europe and the United States,” because since pediatric cancer is rare, investments are limited.
Margarida Cruz maintained that the research will be decisive in improving treatments and the future quality of life of survivors.
“The great challenge in terms of treatments for the coming years will be how medicine, and especially precision medicine, will be able to ensure that these young people have fewer consequences and have a better life,” he highlighted.
On the occasion of the anniversary, the association will hold four conferences in the cities where Casas Penser are located: Porto, Lisbon, Funchal and Coimbra.
The first will take place on Saturday, in Porto, with the theme “The rights of parents in the face of their children’s cancer.”
Source: Observadora
