International Childhood Cancer Day: Over 50,000 new childhood cancer cases diagnosed in India every year; doctor shares early warning signs parents must watch for

International Childhood Cancer Day isn’t just another date on the calendar. It’s a reminder that thousands of children around the world are fighting battles most adults would struggle to face. And they’re doing it with tiny hands, bald heads, and a kind of courage that’s hard to put into words.

Cancer in children is different from adult cancers. It often shows up suddenly. There’s no lifestyle warning sign, no years of buildup. One day a child is running around, and the next there are hospital visits, tests, and words no parent ever wants to hear. That’s what makes it so overwhelming.




But here’s the hopeful part. Many childhood cancers are treatable, especially when caught early. Survival rates have improved a lot over the years because of better treatments and awareness. Still, access to care isn’t equal everywhere.

On International Childhood Cancer Day, TOI Health connected with Dr. Pearl Anand, Consultant -Radiation Oncology, Andromeda Cancer Hospital Sonipat to clear confusion around childhood cancer. The doctor has answered to few critical questions around the health issue.

How common is cancer in children compared to adults?

Childhood cancers are not as common as cancers in adults, but they do still occur around the world. Only 1-3% of the total number of cancers around the world are diagnosed in children under 15. In India, approximately 50,000-75,000 new cases of cancer in children are diagnosed every year. Although they are not as prevalent as adult cancers, childhood cancers need to be treated immediately because if treated early, the chances for survival are greater than if treatment were delayed.

What are the most common types of cancer seen in children?

The most frequently diagnosed childhood cancer is leukemia (30-35%) with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) being the most common. Brain and central nervous system tumours account for 20-25% of childhood cancers (e.g. medulloblastoma, and astrocytoma). Lymphomas (10-15%), including Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma are also included within this category of childhood cancers. Other types of childhood solid tumours are neuroblastoma, Wilms sarcoma, retinoblastoma, osteosarcoma, and Ewing’s sarcoma.

What early warning signs of childhood cancer should parents never ignore?

Any unexplained or persistent symptom should be evaluated by a doctor. The following warnings may indicate the possibility of a childhood cancer,a fever that lingers for longer than two weeks without improvement, unexplained pale skin; unexplained bruising; persistent bone pain; swollen lymph nodes; early morning headaches; vomiting repeatedly; an increase in size of the abdomen; the presence of a white reflex in the eye (leukocoria); limping; or experiencing pain at night. Any symptom that is persistent or has not improved after trying various types of treatment and has been evaluated by a doctor should be evaluated again.

Why is early diagnosis often delayed in children?

Diagnosing cancer in children can take time due to their symptoms being similar to those of other ailments such as viral fever or growing pain. Additionally, since childhood cancers are infrequent, they tend not to raise suspicion early on when first presenting. Unfortunately, routine screening for pediatric cancers is not performed in our country or around the world. In addition, there are many other factors that delay diagnosis and subsequently have an overall negative effect on the prognosis of children with cancer, such as high financial costs, difficulty accessing rural areas, increased use of alternative medicine and delays with referrals.

Medical experts consulted

This article includes expert inputs shared with TOI Health by:

Dr. Pearl Anand, Consultant -Radiation Oncology, Andromeda Cancer Hospital Sonipat

Inputs were used to explain the early signs of childhood cancer in India.