‘Detective Didi & Sidekick’, an interactive booklet that allows to discuss ‘cancer’ on a child’s level

Every week, an average of 10 children gets cancer in our country. So there is a great need for valuable and clear information on a child's level.

This is now available with the booklet 'Detective Didi & Sidekick'.

There are about 16 different types of childhood cancer and these are even further divided into groups with different characteristics. In total, this amounts to about 60 variants, with each type requiring specific scientific attention. In theory, any form of childhood cancer is a rare condition.

But what exactly is cancer? Why is it different in children? How is the correct diagnosis made and what examinations do children have to undergo for this? Doctors treat childhood cancer with medications, surgeries or radiation treatments. Also, sometimes different treatment methods are combined.

If a child has been diagnosed with cancer, there are more questions than answers. Help is therefore needed!

In collaboration with patient experts from KickCancer, pediatric oncologists from various centers in Belgium and the BSPHO (who share expertise and knowledge and improve patient care), we at Bayer, developed an accessible booklet to assist these children, their parents, family and friends with clear information.

It is an interactive booklet that wants to help children with cancer by explaining what cancer is and what a possible treatment can look like - sometimes even with humor! Children can get started by drawing, pulling on flaps, collecting photos and drawings from friends and family and completing lists. It is a source of information and the child learns more about his or her illness and the implications in a playful way.

The aim of this booklet is to help children with cancer and their environment during this difficult period in their lives. The booklet can be purchased online for 9.99 euros - the entire proceeds of the booklet will be spent on pediatric cancer research.

Most of the groundbreaking and reassuring innovations about cancer in the news are often only for adults and therefore do not answer the high medical need that exists within childhood cancer. Little scientific research is done on the many forms of childhood cancer.

This booklet addresses the information needs of children with cancer and financially supports research into pediatric cancer.