The International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD) was observed at Dr.B Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI), Guwahati on 15th February 2024. The event was organized with support from Assam Air Products, Lions Club, Guwahati Realtor Association, and Universe Event Management Company. The theme of this year’s ICCD is “Unveiling Challenges”.
According to Dr.Munlima Hazarika, Professor of Pediatric Oncology at BBCI, childhood cancers are highly curable diseases. In developed countries, the cure rate is as high as 90%, whereas in developing countries like India, the cure rate is less than 50%. Sadly, this poor cure rate is not because of differences in cancer types or genetics, but lack of resources and access to proper management of these children. In the entire Northeast India, BBCI is the only state-of-the-art center with dedicated facilities for Pediatric Oncology. Moreover, there is a lack of awareness among healthcare professionals and even doctors about childhood cancer, and hence awareness is the need of the hour. Most childhood cancers present with similar symptoms of normal childhood diseases and hence doctors may miss the diagnosis the first time leading to a delay in presentation, further stated Dr. Hazarika.