Warriors and Survivors -45

 Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 45

I am Rukh Yusuf, Clinical Pharmacist, also specialized in Total Parenteral Nutrition and Bone Marrow Transplant. I have been working in Pediatric Oncology unit of a public hospital for several years. The mission of this blog is to bring to you the real-life stories of child patients suffering from cancer. Cancer is still a difficult disease to handle and treat. However, when it strikes the children, some so young that they cannot even speak, their agony is beyond expression and words. Let us pray especially for children suffering from cancer for early and complete remission. May Allah shower His Merciful Blessings upon them. Aameen.

Every Child Should have Equal Right to Fight Cancer

International Childhood Cancer Day 2022: Every year, February 15 is observed as the International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD) to highlight the danger and impact of this deadly disease among children. It is a global collaborative campaign to raise awareness about childhood cancer and to express support for children and adolescents with cancer, the survivors, and their families.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 4 lac children and adolescents below the age of 20 years are diagnosed with cancer every year. While the chances of their survival are close to 80 per cent in some high-income countries, the rate of survival for such patients from low-income countries is as low as 20 per cent.

Every year In Pakistan, approximately 8,000 new childhood cancer cases are reported but actual number may be too high as a large number of cases are not reported.

Contrary to the common understanding, if diagnosed and treated properly at an initial stage, cancer is a curable disease. It is common practice in our part of world that patients reach very late at proper diagnosis and treatment stage.

In Pakistan, leukemia (a type of blood cancer) is the most common childhood cancer. Unlike the west where survival rate of leukemia is more than ninety-five percent, this is much lower in our country.  Factors leading to these poor outcomes include severe malnutrition, infections, and delayed diagnosis.

In addition to leukemia, other common types of cancer also seen in Pakistan include lymphomas, bone tumors, retinoblastoma, and Sarcomas.

Mostly pediatric cancers are not preventable, so early diagnosis and appropriate treatment is mandatory. One of the biggest reasons of rise in cancer incidence is lack of awareness about cancer and its symptoms. Consequently, timely diagnosis and treatment is delayed. In our part of the world, instead of reaching to the oncologist on priority, parents often attempt alternative medicine options like spiritual healing and other ways which further delays curative therapy.

Lack of treatment centers and their access are also big hurdles in timely diagnosis and

treatment.

To spread awareness International Pediatric World Cancer Day was organized at Children’s hospital. Children who could come and attend the ceremony took part enthusiastically. They were holding placards mentioning their courage and strength. Hiding their pain, they were standing to show their bravery.

Let’s create awareness about pediatric cancer and make it possible to guide every family to go for timely evaluation and treatment in case of need.

I pray for healthy and smooth recovery of all our warriors, and healthy life for all our survivors May Allah bless all those families who have lost their child in fighting this battle. Aameen