Childhood cancer in India: 75,000 cases reported annually, low survival rates. Expert Dr. Manas Kalra shares symptoms to watch out for, treatment options and importance of early detection.
- India home to 20% of the global childhood cancer burden
- To explain how cancer can be detected in children and ways to tackle it, Times Special spoke to Dr Manas Kalra, a paediatric haematologist, oncologist and BMT physician at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi
- 75,000 reported cases of cancer in children every year as per WHO
- Data by Indian Council of Medical Research in September 2022 shows childhood cancers comprise 4% of all reported cancers
- In high income countries childhood cancer survival rates are 85 to 99%
- In India, five-year survival rates are 40-45% as many children don’t get diagnosed in time
India is home to at least 20 percent of the global childhood cancer burden, with around 75,000 reported cases of cancer in children every year as per the World Health Organisation or WHO.
Data by Indian Council of Medical Research in September 2022 shows that childhood cancers comprise four percent of all reported cancers.