“Your child may have cancer.” These are words that no parent or caregiver wants to hear.

• In Mexico, cancer is the most common cause of death due to disease in patients aged 5 to 14 years oldⁱ.
• There are more than 5,000 new cases of childhood cancer diagnosed per year, and about 18,000 to 23,000 children are receiving treatment or monitoring for cancers todayⁱ.
• Cases of pediatric cancer are often detected between the first and fourth year of lifeⁱ.
• Throughout Mexico, there will be more than two thousand deaths annually from childhood cancersⁱⁱ.

This month, BD, in collaboration with the Mexican Association of Pediatrics and the International Pediatrics Association, launched “My Travel Buddy” – a support tool for children who have been diagnosed with cancer and undergoing treatment.

Each plush doll is designed with features that a child with cancer may experience during their cancer journey, such as the use of intravenous catheter ports and hair loss, and a booklet that talks about side effects treatment and symptoms of illness.

The doll is currently available to patients in 20 hospitals in Mexico City and some states where pediatric oncology patients are regularly seen.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month – and approximately 400,000 children are diagnosed with cancer globally each year. At BD, we are proud to support the continuum of oncology care, from research and discovery to diagnosis, chemotherapy handling and administration. As we continue to drive our Purpose of advancing the world of health, we are proud to support the Mexican Pediatric Association and International Pediatrics Association, to help the most vulnerable patients and their families as they navigate treatment and enter recovery.