80 percentage of children with Cancers do not survive in low and middle income countries

February 15th is International Childhood Cancer Day
- Continental Hospitals to play a constructive role to increase the survival rate to 60% by 2030; a benchmark set by WHO
It is estimated that nearly 300,000 children up to the age of 19 years are diagnosed with cancers, worldwide; and only 20% of these survive to live on beyond their teenage. The situation is equally grim among the low-income sections in India, and the medical fraternity is at war with these deadly cancers to help children live long and lead a healthy life.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Global Childhood Cancer Initiative has set a global target to overcome the ailment and to strive to achieve 60% survival rate among the children suffering from cancers. The Continental Hospitals, one of the largest healthcare facilities in the city, is committed to play a constructive role in reaching the benchmark set by WHO.
Each year, February 15th is celebrated as “International Childhood Cancer Day”, and Continental Hospitals on this day wishes to celebrate the young heroes who not just survived childhood cancers but are leading a healthy and successful lives. Their lives are filled with optimism and will surely encourage others with similar ailments to fight until they defeat the cancer in their body.
Speaking on the occasion of ICCD, Dr. VinodhMaddireddy, Consultant Radiation Oncologist, Continental Hospitals said, “Fighting a deadly disease like cancer at a tender age makes these young one real heroes; and such survivors teach this world the true meaning of challenging the adversary and emerging victorious! At Continental Hospitals, we have witnessed many young heroes who fought the battle and recovered fully to lead the future by setting an example for others.”
Five years ago, a young boy _ Prakash (name changed) _ was diagnosed with pineoblastoma (advanced brain tumor/cancer), a dreaded tumor with a low rate of patient survival. The patient required entire brain and spinal cord radiation and six months of toxic chemotherapy with three very strong drugs. Each passing day and the challenges faced by this brave young man were difficult to see for anyone around him. The most sophisticated hybrid-radiotherapy at Continental Hospitals, helped the patient cope with side-effects; and today after five long years, the young man, now 24-year-old has completely defeated cancer in his body and is leading a happy and successful life.
In another case, a 12-year-old kid Master Arshad Rahman was diagnosed with high grade glioma of thalamus (a form of brain tumor); and his situation was quite peculiar because the patient was not eligible for a biopsy. Instead the team at Continental Hospitals took radiotherapy approach in addition to oral chemotherapy. Medical team left no stone unturned to ensure the spirits of the child are kept high, and this resulted in successful treatment of the dreaded disease. Today, the child leads a normal life and attends a normal school and is active like any other kid in his class.
It is important to note that all hope is not lost in cases of childhood cancers, and such children need right advice from Doctors and family around to keep the spirits high and help them fight the disease inside their bodies.