Dr Tejinder Kataria, Chairperson, Radiation Oncology, Medanta Cancer Institute
International Childhood Cancer Day is a worldwide joint effort to raise awareness of childhood cancer. The movement has expressed empathy for children and adolescents with cancer, survivors and their families.
Childhood cancers are curable in 80% of children with timely diagnosis and quality treatment in the developed countries as well as at the best cancer centres in India.
Approximately 150,000 children are affected with cancer world-wide every year and of this 80% live in low resource countries with minimal or no access to optimal medical care.
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Children’s health, well-being fundamental pillar in the healthcare ecosystem
The treatment of childhood cancers has evolved over the last two decades to give maximum cure with minimum morbidity (side-effects) and is dependent upon availability of chemotherapy medicines in any country. Surgery and Radiation therapy are used as adjuncts to chemotherapy to maximize the local control.
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WHO has pledged to increase the WHO model lists of Essential Medicines to include medicines against childhood cancers and this is expected to help promote the availability of low cost, high impact treatment to a larger population.
International Society for Pediatric Oncology, SIOP has given the message of “Better Survival” is achievable and selected “Tree of Life” universal symbol of growth & renewal to send a powerful message that childhood cancer can be cured along with well being of cancer survivors if we all act together to overcome this disease.