Prevalence and Statistics

• Childhood cancers account for over 2% of new cancer cases annually in Karnataka.
• Out of 87,855 new cancer cases in the State each year, 1,882 (2.1%) are in children.
• In Bengaluru, 339 out of 15,812 cases (2.1%) are pediatric, contributing to 1.5% of cancer deaths.
• At Kidwai Institute of Oncology (KMIO), 601 childhood cancer cases (0–14 years) were registered in 2024, forming 4.6% of total caseload.

Common Types of Childhood Cancer

• Leukaemia is the most prevalent, over 40% in boys and one-third in girls.
• Other significant cancers include lymphomas, brain and nervous system tumours, bone cancers, and kidney cancers.
• Brain tumours are slightly more common in girls than boys.

Treatment and Survival

• With timely diagnosis and uninterrupted therapy, over 70% of childhood cancers are curable.
• Early detection and prompt treatment significantly improve survival rates.
• Parents are advised to watch for red-flag symptoms: persistent fever, unexplained lumps, white eye reflex, vision changes, prolonged bone pain, and sudden weight loss.

Challenges and Initiatives

• Delays in diagnosis and interruptions in therapy remain major hurdles in India.
• Increasing awareness has improved gender parity in treatment registration, with more girls now receiving care.
• KMIO and State authorities emphasize avoiding alternative medicine that delays proper treatment.
• To mark Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (September), KMIO is organising awareness activities and a children’s fiesta to educate families.