The Paediatric Department at AIIMS Bhopal, in association with the National Society for Change for Childhood Cancer in India, Cankids ...Kidscan, hosted a transformative workshop on Tuesday dedicated to empowering childhood cancer survivors.

The event aimed to provide crucial education and support to survivors and their caregivers, emphasizing the importance of long-term health monitoring and quality of life post-treatment.

Prof. (Dr.) Ajai Singh, Executive Director of AIIMS Bhopal, highlighted the critical need for empowerment among young cancer survivors. "By empowering the children, we can empower one generation, thereby strengthening the society," Dr. Singh remarked. He stressed the necessity of systematically identifying, monitoring, and managing the late side effects of cancer treatment to improve the long-term health and quality of life for survivors.

"Just being free from cancer after a long and complicated treatment is not enough," Dr. Singh continued. "Patients and caregivers need to remain vigilant for any side effects or other red flags in time before these post-treatment problems become life-threatening. Regular follow-ups with doctors are as important after treatment as during it."

Despite the critical importance of regular follow-ups, many survivors and their caregivers are unaware of their benefits. Additionally, past painful experiences and long waiting times at hospitals often deter them from attending follow-ups. This avoidance can be detrimental to their health.

To address this issue, the workshop focused on educating and motivating survivors and their caregivers about the importance of regular follow-ups. CANKIDS, through its Survivor Forum, plays a pivotal role in this education. The forum provides survivors and their families with essential knowledge about maintaining a quality life post-treatment, including the necessary lifestyle adjustments to support long-term survivorship.

CANKIDS' Survivor Forum not only educates but also offers a support network to help survivors and their families thrive. By fostering an understanding of the benefits of regular medical check-ups and promoting a healthy lifestyle, the forum aims to ensure that cancer survivors can lead fulfilling lives. During the program, Dr. Yogendra Yadav, Dr. Narendra Chaudhary, Dr. Ambar Kumar, Dr. Rajkumar and Dr. Vaishnavi Agarwal expressed their views on various issues. While Mr. Vikas Yadav spoke about Cankids. About 30 families participated in the workshop.