Doctors, cancer survivors run to raise awareness

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) resident doctors and survivors of childhood cancer held a 5-km run in the campus on Sunday to create awareness about the deadly disease on the occasion of International Childhood Cancer Day.

“In a busy institution like ours it is usually the patients who run for the doctors. This would be the first time when the doctors ran for the patients,” said Shashank Pooniya, general secretary, Resident Doctors of AIIMS (RDA). According to doctors at AIIMS, every year at least 600 children are diagnosed with cancer in the institution. While leukaemia and lymphoma are the most common childhood cancers, oncologists say that lack of awareness and late diagnosis are one of the reasons for spurt in cases.

“Childhood cancer is treatable. The probability of curing childhood cancer is more as compared to curability rate in cancer in adults. But wrong diagnosis and lack of awareness often leads to delay and hence, increases the risk. Sixty per cent of patients who come to us, have cancer in advanced stage,” said Rachna Seth, Assistant Professor at Division of Pediatric 0ncology, AIIMS.

Oncologist says that in addition with late diagnosis, increased use of tobacco is further aggravating the risk of cancer.

“The western lifestyle is the becoming one of the reasons for the rise in cancer cases amongst children. Forty per cent of cancer amongst children is related to use of tobacco and alcohol. Whether direct smoking or passive smoking, both are harmful for health,” said P K Julka, oncologist at All India Medical Institute of Medial Sciences (AIIMS).

Also, consumption of chemicals and pesticides through vegetables and infections are other reasons.

“Early diagnose can help in cancer prevention. Pre-natal diagnosis, genetic tests and regular check-ups should be done. Also, awareness about harmful effects of tobacco and alcohol needs to be spread amongst children,” said Julka.