If your child is showing symptoms like prolonged fever, anemia, bleeding, bony pain, swollen lymph nodes, abdominal distention, weight loss, persistent cough, a white reflex in the eye, or morning headaches with vomiting, it's vital to consult a pediatric oncologist promptly.
These symptoms can indicate serious health conditions, including cancer, and early evaluation is crucial for effective treatment, said experts in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology.
“While cancer in children is daunting, it is often treatable with early diagnosis. In high-income countries, over 80% of children diagnosed with cancer can be cured, whereas in low- and middle-income countries like India, the cure rate is less than 30%, mainly due to delay in treatment,” said Dr. Nita Radhakrishnan, Associate Professor and HOD, Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at the Post Graduate Institute of Child Health, Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
Government schemes like Ayushman Bharat help ensure that quality care is available to all families, regardless of income, said Dr Radhakrishnan.
Despite these efforts, challenges remain in LMICs, including late diagnoses and barriers to treatment. The WHO reports that around 400,000 children and adolescents worldwide are diagnosed with cancer each year, with many facing nutritional deficits that complicate treatment.
At PGICH, treatment for cancers include Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT) for children from Uttar Pradesh as well as from other States.
To mark the childhood cancer awareness month, the Department of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, PGICH organized a walkathon to raise awareness regarding the disease with Dean Prof DK Singh, MS Dr Akash Raj, Executive registrar Dr Sumi Nandwani among others attending the event.
The most common types of childhood cancers include leukemias, brain cancers, lymphomas and solid tumours, such as neuroblastoma and Wilms tumours. In India, an estimated 76,000 children may develop cancer annually. Lack of nutritious food is also one of the reasons for delay in recovery.
According to a report, ‘FoodHealsTM: Exploring Nutritional Aspects of Childhood Cancer in India’, released recently, between 57 % and 61 % of children with cancer are undernourished at the time of initial nutrition consultation – a figure that has remained unchanged over the past three years.
“The nutritional deficit negatively affects their ability to tolerate cancer treatment, leading to increased complications and infections, ultimately compromising treatment outcomes,” said Purnota Dutta Bahl, Founder and CEO, Cuddles Foundation which has prepared the report with an aim to draw the attention towards nutritional needs of the kids afflicted with the disease.
