Every year, 30 to 40 children in Luxembourg get diagnosed with cancer, which underlines the need for better oncological paediatrics. Petitioner Julia Dauphiné, whose proposal was up for debate on Monday morning after gathering 5,056 signatures, explained it was vital for young patients to be able to receive proper treatment in Luxembourg instead of having to find assistance abroad.
As the mother of a girl diagnosed with cancer, Dauphiné spoke from personal experience when addressing the Chamber on Monday morning: “Driving to Paris every second week was extremely exhausting for [our family]. It is one thing to tell your child to sit in a car for four hours, and another thing to explain that the treatment is the reason that they are weak, feel ill, throw up, and are unable to eat or drink.”
Noah Waxweiler, who was diagnosed with cancer for a second time this year, was also present at the Chamber debate to share his experience of seeking treatment in Brussels and Hamburg at the age of thirteen. This year, he was treated in Luxembourg for the first time.
Waxweiler noted: “It made a big difference that I was close to my friends and family and that I was able to carry on living my life as normally as possible under the given circumstances. Nevertheless, I saw how doctors at CHL struggled with the lack of infrastructure, access to equipment, and basic training for my individual treatment. I know that they did their best, but if I compare it to Hamburg, I have to say that the difference was extremely significant.”
Minister of Health Paulette Lenert explained that the oncology services at the children’s hospital are to be further expanded alongside the renovation of CHL as of 2024. At the end of the debate, the politician was tasked with contacting the oncology services and ensuring that they get upgraded to international norms in terms of available beds and specialised personnel.
