Rising pollution due to rapid urbanisation is taking a toll on the health of the children as they fall prey to killer disease, cancer.
According to the latest Government data, over 81,869 childhood cancer cases were reported in 2012, with Uttar Pradesh topping the list at 13,726 followed by Maharashtra (7,523) in 2012. But what is more concerning is that very few cancer-afflicted children manage to get timely treatment, even though childhood cancers have a higher cure rate, say experts.
Dr Sajid Qureshi, Chief of Pediatric Surgical Oncology from Mumbai-based Tata Memorial Hospital said, “We don’t know the exact cause or mechanism that is responsible for cancer among children. Genetic abnormalities can be one of the reasons.”
Every year, over 40,000 new cases of cancer in children are being reported in India. The common cancers among children are acute lymphoblastic leukemia or blood cancer, germ cell tumour, brain tumour and liver and kidney cancer, among others.
Dr Gauri Kapoor, director of paediatric hematology and oncology at the Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute didn’t rule out increase in cases due to rapid industrialisation leading into dumping of affluents and poisonous agents in the rivers. However, she said that while the exact cause may be yet to be ascertained as lots of research is still undergoing, treatment has definitely improved at least in the major metros like Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai.
“But a lot is yet to be done. Of the 40,000 that is reported, only 20-30 per cent manages to get proper treatment,” Dr Gauri Kapoor said. But, this is only possible if the cancer is diagnosed at the right stage and the child is given right mode of treatment.
Dr Qureshi noted, “Childhood cancer cases account for 5 per cent of the total cancers including those among adults in the country. In absolute term, this is a huge number. For instance, at the Tata Memorial Hospital alone, we are getting 2,000 cases annually.”