Ludhiana (15 th February 2019). SPS Hospital Ludhiana marked Feb 15 th as the
“International Child Cancer Day” by celebrating the spirit of the children fighting this
disease. Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, headed by Dr Priyanka
Gupta at SPS Hospitals is the only dedicated department in this entire region of Punjab,
Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, J&K and Uttrakhand to have the expertise to treat children
below 19 years of age diagnosed with cancer.
International Childhood Cancer Day is notable for creating awareness amongst the
masses to eliminate all pain and suffering of children fighting cancer and achieve at least
60% survival for all children diagnosed with cancer around the world by 2030. Dr. Gupta
said that childhood cancer should be made a national and global child health priority to
ensure the right to early and proper diagnosis; the right to access life-saving essential
medicines; the right to appropriate and quality medical treatments, the right to treatment
without pain and suffering and when a cure is not attainable, the right of the child to a
pain-free end of life care if everything else fails.
Dr. Gupta Said that Cancer is an uncontrolled growth of cells in any part of the body
which can spread to other parts of the body. The belief about cancer is that it exists only
in adults. This is untrue as it can appear at any age in life. In most cases the cause is
unknown however it’s important to understand that it is not caused by anything the
parent did or didn’t do. This can be attributed to the lack of cancer registries in a large
majority of low and middle income countries, under diagnosis, misdiagnosis and/or
under-registration of children with cancer. Experts and researches estimate that
approximately 90% of children with cancer reside in developing countries. The
commonest cancers are blood cancers (Leukemia) and brain tumors. Childhood cancer
is considered a modern day “miracle” by health circles. More than 70% of childhood
cancer is now curable with modern therapy. Overall In Low income countries, where
access to health care is limited and very challenging, survival rates are as low as 10-
20% meaning that only 1-2 children out of 10 who are diagnosed with cancer and
receive treatment will survive. In high income countries, survival rates can be as high as
80 – 90%, meaning that 8-9 children out of ten diagnosed and treated will survive.
Lack Of Information About Early Signs And Symptoms Of Childhood Cancer, Late
Diagnosis, Misdiagnosis, Absence Of Referral Systems To Hospitals With Child Cancer
Specialists, Difficult Access To Care And Treatment in rural areas, Discontinuance Of
Treatment, Migrant Population are the reasons for this significant inequity. Dr. Priyanka
tell that Each year, more than 300,000 children from birth to 19 years are diagnosed with
cancer around the world. Access to the best possible healthcare for children with cancer
is a right not a privilege. Childhood cancer continues to be a neglected and marginalized
disease. A child with cancer is no less (nor more) important than a child with malaria,
measles, tuberculosis, HIV, malnutrition, or any other life-threatening illness. All sick
children deserve our full efforts to prolong and improve the quality of their lives. Children
with cancer should suffer less and survive more. Working together, can make a
difference for children who otherwise would have no hope of a future. Even though
cancer in children is a fraction of the global cancer burden, for children and their families,
it is the difference between life and death. One death is too many. Children are our
future and they deserve a chance to live to the fullest when help is at hand. White spot in
the eye, new squint, blindness, bulging eye, Lump anywhere in the body, Unexplained
fever for over 2 weeks, Loss of weight, Pallor, fatigue, easy bruising, bleeding, Aching
bones and easy fractures, Change in walk, balance, speech, Headaches for more than 2
weeks, enlarging head are WARNING SIGNS FOR CANCER IN CHILDREN. Senior
Oncologist Dr. Navdeep Singh and CEO of the hospital Dr. Jay Angreesh also tell about
cancer and treatment facilities available in the region.
