GUWAHATI, Nov 14 - A large number of children suffering from cancer celebrated Children�s Day at the Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI) today.
Childhood cancer relative to cancers in all age groups varies between 0.7 and 4 per cent. In boys, the relative proportion is lowest in Nagaland PBCR (0.7 pc) and highest in Delhi PBCR (5.4 pc). In girls, it varies from 0.5 pc in East Khasi Hills district (Meghalaya) to 3.5 pc in Naharlagun (Arunachal).
Common childhood cancers are leukaemia, lymphomas, soft tissue sarcoma, bone CNS tumour, bone tumours, germ cell tumours, renal and hepatic tumours. At BBCI, out of all childhood cancers in boys, leukaemia constitutes 25.8 pc, followed by lymphomas with 19.5 pc. In case of girls, leukaemia constitutes 24.8 pc, followed by retinoblastoma (cancer of eye) (19.4 pc) and central nervous tumour (10.1 pc).
�With advancement of medical science, a vast majority of childhood cancers can be cured completely. Public and parents should therefore be educated about early signs and symptoms of childhood cancers. The symptoms include continued, unexplained weight loss, headache often with early morning vomiting, increased swelling or persistent pain in bones, joints, back, or legs, lump or mass, especially in the abdomen, neck, chest, pelvis or armpits, development of excessive bruising, bleeding, or rash, constant infections, whitish colour behind the pupil, nausea, which persists or vomiting without nausea, constant tiredness or noticeable paleness, eye or vision changes which occur suddenly and persist, recurrent or persistent fevers of unknown origin,� BBCI Director Dr AC Kataki said.
The celebration started with cutting of the cake by paediatric cancer patients undergoing treatment at BBCI and cancer survivors in the presence of doctors and other employees of the institute. Children were presented gifts, and the donors who supported the treatment cost of children were felicitated. A few children performed Bihu dance, modern Hindi song dance and recited poems, which was widely appreciated by the audience. Dr Kataki appealed to the public to come forward to provide financial support for the treatment of poor cancer patients and also to assist them in rehabilitation.
Dr Munlima Hazarika, Dr C Bhuyan, Dr BJ Saikia, Dr PS Roy, Dr J Dev Sharma and other doctors were present on the occasion. JIV Daya Foundation has been regularly providing financial aid for poor cancer patients.
