![](https://www.worldpharmatoday.com/images/nBanners/Docuvera-728x90.jpeg")
Childhood cancer contributes to nearly 5% of the total cancer burden in India, with approximately 45,000 children diagnosed with cancer every year. As increasing prevalence of cancer among children is becoming a cause of great concern, there is an urgent need to spread awareness about childhood cancers, for timely detection and treatment, say doctors at Dharamshila Hospital and Research Centre, India’s first and only NABH accredited cancer hospital.
Childhood cancers were almost fatal 20 years back. With better understanding of biology, diagnostic, therapeutic and supportive care, the cure rates have improved to almost 70 – 80% in children suffering from cancer.
In a press conference today Dr. Meenu Walia and Dr. Anish Maru, Senior Consultants –Medical Oncology, Dharamshila Hospital and Research Centre, Delhi (India) shed light on the commonly diagnosed childhood cancers, Namely Blood cancer, Lymphomas, Brain Tumours, Tumours of bones, Soft Tissue, Kidney etc.
Dr. Meenu Walia, also shared case studies of five innocent children (Master Sahil, Master Aman, Master Rajiv, Baby Aditi and Master Dharaya), they took audience by surprise when they shared their experience and stood like fighters in the gathering. She said, “Childhood Leukemia presents with Fever, Anaemia, Low Platelet Count, Lymphadenopathy, Hepatosplenomegaly and joint pains, so any child having these problems should be investigated to rule out Leukemia, with Peripheral Blood Film (PBF) and Bone Marrow Examination.”
Speaking on the cases of childhood cancer, Dr Anish Maru said, “Solid Tumours of children can affect brain, Kidney, adrenals, bones and soft tissue and they require meticulous treatment with multimodality approach in a tertiary care centre with facilities of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy to achieve high cure rates with least long term complications.
Dr. S. Khanna, Executive Director Said “Dharamshila Hospital is the first and only NABH accredited cancer hospital of India, where dedicated team of doctors, most modern equipments, blood bank with humanitarian and personal touch by doctors to achieve higher cures with human dignity. We even take care of poor patients by supporting them in all manners.
She also said, we are blessed to have hundreds of smiling childhood cancers survivors, who are our ambassadors to prove that cancer is curable.”
Master Sahil, 7 years old male child, Master Dharaya, 3 years old male child, Master Rajiv, 13 years old male child, came to Dharamshila Hospital with complaints of high grade fever, pain in abdomen and anorexia and later diagnosed as Acute Lymphoid Leukemia (ALL. While, Master Aman, 7 years old and Baby Aditi, 8 years old female child came to the Hospital with complaints of high grade fever and pain in abdomen and later diagnosed as Primitive Neuro Ectodermal Tumour (PNET). They were treated at Dharamshila Hospital and now are in remission.
About Dharamshila Hospital and Research Centre: Founded by Dharamshila Cancer Foundation and Research Centre (DCFRC) in 1994, Dharamshila Hospital and Research Centre (DHRC) is one of the top cancer hospitals of India for advanced cancer treatment.
DHRC provides preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitative, palliative and support services under one roof. Responding to the healthcare needs of the community all other allied services like Neurosurgery, Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery, Dental and Faciomaxillary Surgery, Orthopaedics, Gastroenterology, Nephrology and Urology etc. were added. DHRC is continuously adding cutting edge technologies, practicing evidence based medicine and following international treatment protocols, to achieve best treatment outcomes.
With high quality standards of treatment, complete patient safety and satisfaction and improving cure rates the hospital has evolved into North India’s premier cancer institute, treating all types of cancers and is one of the first to explore gene therapy. To add to the pool of trained and skilled manpower, the hospital was first in India to start three years full time doctorate course – DNB Medical Oncology in 2002, DNB Surgical Oncology in 2003 and Post Basic Diploma in Oncology Nursing in 2010.
