A landmark study published in The Lancet has pointed out a worrying health trend in South Asia, with India accounting for almost seven out of every 10 childhood leukaemia cases in the region.
And it is more important to push for early diagnosis, better treatment access, and better coverage of childhood cancer in the country.
Leukaemia, a cancer that affects blood and bone marrow, is the most common cancer among children globally. Although medical advances have drastically improved survival rates in many high-income countries, such as South Asia, where many children still have to wait longer for diagnosis and receive specialised treatment.
The large population in India is contributing to the high incidence of childhood leukaemia cases that we study, he explained. However, research also shows that inequality in healthcare infrastructure, a lack of awareness of early warning signs, late referrals and financial barriers prevent timely treatment can affect survival rates.
Medical experts say early symptoms of childhood leukaemia are often typical of common illnesses which make diagnosis difficult for early diagnosis.
Persistent fever, unusual bruising, excessive fatigue, frequent infections, bone pain, and unexplained weight loss are warning signs that should be taken seriously and should be examined immediately by the doctor.
The authors stress that awareness of the disease to parents, teachers, and primary healthcare providers is key to detecting it early. Early diagnosis increases the chances of treatment and long-term survival.
The study also highlighted the need for stronger paediatric oncology centres, expanded access to affordable medicines and timely specialist care for children in rural and under-resourced areas. Better cancer registries and better data collection can also enable policymakers to formulate more effective healthcare strategies.
India has made a lot of progress in childhood cancer treatment through government-supported healthcare schemes and specialized hospitals but experts believe there are still some more investments that are required for regional disparities to be balanced and for all states to have equal access to quality cancer care.
The Lancet study also calls for greater collaboration between governments, healthcare institutions, researchers and international organisations to reduce the burden of childhood cancers across South Asia.
Public awareness campaigns, enhanced screening initiatives and better referral networks may help to improve outcomes for thousands of children every year.
Health professionals stress that diagnosis of childhood leukaemia is often overwhelming, but the development of chemotherapy, targeted treatments, as well as supportive care have greatly improved survival when treatment is initiated early in life.
Parents are encouraged to seek medical advice if symptoms persist rather than dismiss them as routine childhood illnesses.
The findings are an important reminder that childhood cancer is still a public health issue.
Many young lives can be saved with better awareness, better healthcare systems and timely treatment. Future health policy in India and the region will be informed by this study and improve long-term survival rates of childhood cancer.
