Common Myths Related To Childhood Cancer Debunked

Most cases of childhood cancer can be cured if treated on time, says an expert, stressing the need for widespread awareness about cancer in children.

Childhood cancers account for about 3 per cent of all the cancers. Of about three lakh childhood cancer cases in the world, about 50,000 occur in India each year. On the occasion of International Childhood Cancer Day (February 15), Dr. Gauri Kapoor, Medical Director RGCIRC, Niti Bagh, & Director Pediatric Hematology & Oncology, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Center (RGCIRC) has debunked some common myths related to childhood cancer.

Myth: Adult and childhood cancers are the same

Fact: Adult and childhood cancers are different. They’re different in terms of the type of cancer that occurs, the nature of the disease and the response to treatment and cure rates. In children we have leukemia, brain and spinal cord tumours, neuroblastoma, Wilms tumour, lymphoma and retinoblastoma. Childhood cancers are fast growing, but they also respond very well to chemotherapy if these are diagnosed in a timely fashion and treated by the right team. They have good cure rates.