Mr. Speaker, February 15 will mark International Childhood Cancer Day and so I would like to mention a few facts about this illness.
The most common cancers in children and adolescents are leukemia, lymphoma and tumours of the central nervous system, and they are different from those that affect adults. Cancer is the leading cause of death in children between the ages of 0 and 14. This year in Quebec 230 children in this age group will contract cancer. Sadly, 40 will die as a result.
Although a great deal of progress has been made, the fight is not over yet. Therefore, I invite my colleagues to salute the volunteers, doctors and other health professionals in their communities devoted to working with children suffering from cancer.