UP, Delhi, Tamil Nadu Report Highest Childhood Cancer Cases, Study Finds

Childhood Cancer in India: A very sensitive report has come out regarding the health problems in children in India. A landmark study recently published in the famous research magazine of Britain, Journal of Cancer Policy, has made many important revelations about childhood cancer in India. Research done by many leading cancer experts of the country, including AIIMS Delhi, has revealed that the number of cancer patients among children in some states of India is much higher than in other states. In this study, the data of more than 22 thousand children suffering from cancer have been analyzed minutely, based on which a list of the most affected states in the country has been prepared.

These States Have The Highest Number Of Cancer Cases Among Children

According to this study, published in the Journal of Cancer Policy, Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of children with cancer in India. Uttar Pradesh alone accounts for 22.6 percent of the total recorded cases, with the highest number of 5,057 child patients. The country's capital, New Delhi, is second on the list, with a significant cancer burden of 19.2 percent.

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The southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu is next, accounting for 18 percent of the total cases, or 4,010 children affected by cancer. Andhra Pradesh is fourth on the list, with 6.1 percent of the total cases, or 1,354. Beyond these major states, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar also have significant populations of childhood cancer patients, reflecting the increasing prevalence of the disease in India.

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Long Distances Have To Be Covered For Treatment

This study not only collected patient data but also highlighted the practical and financial challenges faced by their families during treatment. According to the report, the distribution of pediatric cancer specialty hospitals and centers in the country is highly uneven, forcing families from rural and underserved areas to travel an average of two to three hours to receive treatment for their children.

More than 60 percent of families must travel more than two hours to major cities for therapy or routine checkups. Doctors say that children with solid tumors have to travel even longer for surgery and radiotherapy than those with blood cancers, and financial constraints often force families to abandon treatment midway. 

Experts Gave Important Policy Suggestions

Experts from AIIMS Delhi, AIIMS Kalyani, and the Chennai Cancer Institute, who participated in the study, have advised the government to formulate concrete policies in this direction. Doctors believe that it is crucial to expand pediatric cancer care facilities not only in major metropolitan areas but also at the regional level. To achieve this, they call for strengthening regional treatment networks and improving referral systems that identify the disease at an early stage. If early cancer symptoms in children are identified and treatment initiated promptly, the survival rate can be significantly improved.