Cancer can be identified as one of the main factors that have a devastating impact on Sri Lankan society. According to the Association of Oncology Specialists, a situation has been created in which about 105 cancer patients are reported daily. The association’s reports show that an increase in this figure is observed every year and the number of people who die from cancer daily is estimated to be 46. Dr. Prasad Abeysinghe, President of the Association of Oncology Specialists, points out that a dangerous situation has now been created in which about 38,300 cancer patients are reported annually.
900 children get cancer in a year.
One of the most serious issues here is that young children are also more prone to cancer. According to government statistics, a situation has been created where around 900 childhood cancer patients are diagnosed annually. The Ministry of Health’s National Cancer Control Program points out that measures have been taken to reduce the incidence of childhood cancer and to provide special information on how to protect them from cancer.
Cancers occurring in the age group from birth to 19 years are called childhood cancers. It has also been recognized that male and female children suffer from cancer in equal proportions. Ministry of Health records show that 471 boys and 454 girls were newly diagnosed with childhood cancer.
Childhood cancer is completely curable – a comforting response from doctors
Meanwhile, there is also a favourable response regarding children’s cancer patients. This means that the probability of curing childhood cancer patients is very high. Suraj Perera, a community medicine expert at the National Cancer Control Program of the Ministry of Health, points out that the probability of curing childhood cancer patients with treatment is as high as 80% to 90%.
Although most of the children’s lives can be saved, around 250 children in Sri Lanka die of cancer every year. He also expressed his belief that it would have been possible to save the lives of more children had it not been for the illness, the nature of the disease, and not being able to diagnose the disease in time.
Treatment methods such as drugs, surgery and radiation therapy are necessary to cure childhood cancer, and the high cost of these treatments undermines efforts to save the lives of children with cancer. This is the case in low and middle-income countries. In such countries, many children with cancer die due to not being able to get proper and timely treatment and tests. Not being able to diagnose the disease in a timely manner, abandoning treatment due to economic difficulties, poisoning and re-escalation of cancer conditions that were being suppressed are also factors that increase the death rate of childhood cancer patients. International health organizations have revealed that the length of time children with cancer live with the disease is determined by the income levels of people in each country.
The medical recommendation is that a person of any age can develop cancer in the body. The Society of Cancer Specialists points out that it is very important for every person to understand this fact which has been discovered experimentally and it is a matter that leads to disease control. Cancer can occur anywhere in the body of any person, and the occurrence of cancer begins through a change in the intrinsic substances of a cell. From there, cells begin to grow unnecessarily, and it rapidly spreads throughout the body. Failure to provide timely treatment allows these cells to spread rapidly. If the disease can be detected early, the patient’s life can be saved.
Are children’s cancers related to genetics?
Research has revealed that about 10% of childhood cancers are hereditary. The recommendation of the World Health Organization is that environmental causes and behavioural factors have a very minimal impact on children’s cancer. It is believed that certain infections in childhood affect the development of cancer later. Although it is difficult to give a guarantee on whether it has been scientifically discovered, doctors and international health organizations have emphasized that it is important to give vaccines to children in order to prevent certain infections. Vaccination for “Hepatitis B” is very important, it prevents liver cancer.
Let us first identify the basic features…
It is very important that society is informed about the cure for childhood cancer. There is no specific way to prevent cancer, and the only thing that can be done is to provide the necessary treatment to cure them. The advantage of having a high ability to heal children is very important. Therefore, the Maharagama Apeksha Hospital is the main place with facilities for high-level treatment for children with cancer.
If there is any doubt regarding the health condition of the children, it is the responsibility of parents and adults to get them checked.
