Narayana Health SRCC Children’s Hospital recently organised several activities like performance by cancer patients, talk show and panel discussion by expert doctors on the occasion of International Childhood Day. The event was organised along with Ugam — Childhood cancer survivors support group under the survivorship banner of Indian Cancer Society, the oldest and premier NGO in oncology sphere in India.
Dr Purna Kurkure, HOD — Pediatric Hemato-Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant, Narayana Health SRCC Children’s Hospital, explained that International Childhood Cancer Day is a global collaborative campaign to raise awareness about childhood cancer and to express support for children and adolescents with cancer, the survivors and their families.
The experts were of the common view that paediatric cancer is at an alarming level in India. With early detection and a proper treatment, cancer can be cured and the children can grow as healthy adults and live full life.
Dr Ruchira Misra, Senior Consultant — Paediatric Hemato-Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant, Narayana Health – SRCC Children’s Hospital, said, “Paediatric cancer is at a point of concern and is ever increasing year-by-year. As per WHO, cancer is a leading cause of death for children, with 300,000 new cases diagnosed each year among children aged zero to 19 years. In India alone, there are over 50,000 paediatric cancer cases reported every year. There are different types of cancer among children and they have a very different behaviour as compared to adults.”
Further, Dr Misra added, “There are myths among the adults in terms of the knowledge about paediatric cancer and its curability. The symptoms could be common, however, with advanced medical technology and the kind of doctors and their knowledge currently in the country, it can be diagnosed and proper treatment can be offered to children.”
Dr Sujata Mushrif, Consultant, Paediatric oncology, said the most paediatric cancers have curability rates with 70 per cent overall curability. Hence, we should strive to decrease the abandonment of kids with cancer.