NEW DELHI: Every year, approximately 70,000 new cases of childhood cancers are diagnosed in India, of which nearly 400 are treated at AIIMS. Notably, AIIMS boasts a high survival rate of 75-80%, said the institute’s doctors during the celebration of Childhood Cancer Survivor Day recently.
According to the doctors, the AIIMS pediatric oncology division offers specialised cancer survivorship services in India. They run a weekly clinic where children who have completed their treatment successfully are registered, while those who have been treated in the past are followed up on aspects such as growth, social issues, education, integration into society, and the late effects of cancer treatment.
“Approximately 250 patients complete their treatment at our centre every year and are registered at the survivor clinic,” said Dr Rachna Seth, a professor in the department of paediatrics at AIIMS. She explained that if other problems such as cardiac dysfunction, neurocognitive deficit, metabolic syndrome, or fertility-related issues arise after cancer treatment, they are addressed through consultations with the respective specialists.
Dr Seth added that the survivors are closely monitored for disease recurrence. Due to their compromised immune systems, these children undergo a revaccination course that begins six months after completing their treatment. She said childhood cancers differ from adult cancers and most of them can be cured if detected early and treated appropriately. She warned that common symptoms, such as unexplained fever, loss of energy, paleness, unusual lumps or swellings, weight loss, easy bruising, and bleeding should not be overlooked. Squinting of the eyes is another potential sign often disregarded.
The most common childhood cancers include leukemias/lymphomas, CNS tumours, other solid tumours like neuroblastoma, Wilms tumour, soft tissue sarcomas, bone tumours, and retinoblastoma.
Dr Seth emphasised the need for more clinics of this nature as their objective differs from acute oncology care, which primarily focuses on curing the patient and achieving complete remission. Post-treatment clinics, on the other hand, aim to provide healthy survivorship. They emphasise the importance of a healthy lifestyle and provide detailed counselling to patients and their families on how to lead a healthy life after surviving cancer.
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