RGCON 2023 Puts the Limelight on Childhood Cancers

Unlike cancer in adults, childhood cancers have high cure rates. In the last few decades tremendous advances have taken place in this field and many childhood cancers are now curable to the tune of 70-80%. The high cure rates have become possible not just by development of new drugs but by development of specialty designed protocols, and development of better antibiotics, antifungal drugs, availability of blood components and training of medical and nursing personnel.

"It is estimated that in India every year about 50,000 new cases of childhood cancer are diagnosed but a very small number receive proper treatment. This is largely because even today, there is a lack of awareness among the general public and physicians about pediatric cancers. Hence there is a tendency of denial that delays diagnosis and patients are usually brought to oncology centers with very advanced disease. In India much higher cure rates are possible if children with this condition are diagnosed early by their local physicians and treated at comprehensive cancer centres like RGCIRC. A large number of General Physicians and Pediatricians working across the country, therefore, will also be a part of the conference," added Dr. Kapoor.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer aims to improve outcomes for children with cancer around the world. The target of the Initiative is to improve survival from childhood cancer to at least 60% by 2030 and to reduce the suffering of all children with cancer. More so because access to care is very heterogeneous especially in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC) like India where nearly 20% of the World's childhood cancer cases reside. The Government of India is also getting involved in this initiative and it is hoped that the future for our pediatric cancer patients is set to improve.