It has been found that only two-thirds of the children with cancer in Nepal receive treatment.
According to the Kanti Children’s Hospital, out of the total number of new patients being treated for pediatric cancer in all the hospitals in Nepal, only two-thirds receive the full treatment.
About 20 to 30 per cent of the children who come to the hospital return without treatment or leave the treatment due to lack of funds and awareness, said, Dr. Ajit Rayamajhi, director of the hospital. According to Rayamajhi, it is estimated that 1,500 patients with pediatric cancer are being added to Nepal every year. He said, “Even though there are no reliable statistics in Nepal, it is estimated that 1,500 children with cancer will be added annually.”
Director Dr. Rayamajhi said that the treatment facility is not available due to lack of awareness among the parents.
According to oncologists, in the developed countries, 85 to 90 per cent of children with cancer are completely cured. According to doctors, around 70 per cent of cancer patients who have excess to treatment have cured.
The most common cancers in children are leukemia, brain and spinal cord tumours, neuroblastoma, wilms tumour, lymphoma (including both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin), rhabdomyosarcoma, retinoblastoma and bone cancer (including osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma). According to the Ministry of Health and Population, the children with cancer will get treatment at affordable price at the government hospitals.
Source : TRN,
