In my odyssey of pediatric oncology practice, I come across many parents, who bring their child with a suspicion of cancer but they end up abandoning treatment due to lack of awareness, denial of the fact that their child has cancer, lack the knowledge about the curability of childhood cancer and lack of finances to support the treatment. There are countless obstacles to accessing quality cancer care which the parents face from diagnosis to treatment.

One million new cancers are diagnosed annually in India, and nearly 3% of these occur in children. Likely many cases are “missed” and the incidence is higher than what is reported. It is presumed that about 60% of the children with newly diagnosed cancers in India will succumb to the disease as opposed to only 10% of the children in the developed countries. Data may be frightening and diagnosis of cancer can be a nightmare for the parents. Knowing the “red herring” signs is important for both the parents and physicians.

Unlike adult cancers, childhood cancers are not linked to lifestyle or environmental factors. They typically arise due to random genetic mutations. Symptoms may vary depending on the type, but persistent unexplained fevers, weight loss, fatigue, or unusual lumps should prompt a medical consultation

Thinking beyond boundaries

Early diagnosis is crucial. If a doctor suspects cancer, they may recommend a biopsy, imaging tests, or blood tests to confirm the diagnosis. Once identified, the cancer type and stage guide treatment, which often includes chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, or a combination of these. In some cases, targeted therapies or immunotherapies, which are designed to attack cancer cells more precisely, may be used.

Multidisciplinary approach including a pediatric oncologist, pediatric surgeon, radiation oncologist, psychologist, trained nursing staff, nutritionist is crucial to deal with children with cancer. With increasing survivors of childhood cancers, it has been realized that it’s not only important to cure, but to cure with the least toxic protocols.