More than 80% of paediatric cancers are curable

Child oncologists in Ahmedabad, non-government organisations working for cancer patients and survivors of the disease will participate in a drive to raise awareness on childhood cancer on February 15, International Childhood Cancer Day.

The programme will be launched by The International Confederation of Childhood Cancer Parent Organisations (ICCCPO), World Child Cancer and the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC).

More than 80 per cent of the cancers, both solid and blood variety, are completely curable in children. Deaths occur mainly due to lack of knowledge about availability of proper treatment.

Dr. Deepa Trivedi, a leading child oncologist, said, "Though there have been tremendous advances made in the treatment of childhood cancer and subsequent improvements in survival rates, it is unfortunate that this knowledge has not yet reached the majority of children diagnosed with cancer in Gujarat."

ICCCPO and UICC, which support more than 40 projects in resource-constrained countries through the 'My Child Matters' initiative, blame lack of awareness, poor access to information, late or no detection and lack of effective treatment to high mortality of child cancer patients for this state of affairs.

Karunakare Foundation, an NGO working for cancer patients and survivors in Gujarat, has formed a Cancer Patients' and Survivors' Club to educate patients.