KATHMANDU: Previously cancer used to be taken as a disease that occurred after reaching old age. However, recently, cancer has started to be seen in young children as well. Some children are forced to be placed beyond the reach of treatment.

As the cancer disease is increasing in Nepal, doctors have recently said that the condition of treatment is becoming worse than before.

Based on this topic, Khabarhub’s Bina Neupane approached pediatrician Dr. Sudhir Sapkota to talk about the cancer risk in children.

Here are the excerpts from the interview:

What kind of cancer cases has been seen in children lately?

Nowadays, the awareness that cancer can also occur in children is increasing, so the disease is identified in time. In Nepal, around 50 percent of cancer cases in children are of blood cancer. Then, there are cases of eye and kidney cancer.

What is the cause of blood cancer in Nepali children?

There is not a single specific reason. It could be due to environmental pollution or the diet of the mother while the child is still in the fetal state or even genetics.

What kind of cancer is most obvious in the patients visiting Kanti Children’s Hospital?

Around 200 cancer patients come here annually. Most of the cases are of blood cancer. Apart from that, there have been patients with kidney cancer, eye cancer, liver, bone and muscle cancer, etc.

What causes kidney cancer in children?

5 to 10 percent of cases of all childhood cancers have a genetic cause. Other causes are difficult to identify yet.

Before going to the hospital, how can one know whether the child has cancer?

There are some symptoms of cancer. Among the symptoms that we have seen so far are long-term fever, swelling of the child’s body, the appearance of blue tar on the body, and loss of blood. If cancer is detected in time, its treatment is easy.

At which stage do most of the cancer patients come to Kanti Children’s Hospital for treatment?

People from around Kathmandu often come to the hospital during the first stage. However, those who come from outside often come late; they consult many doctors outside before coming to the hospitals in the capital.

How long is the treatment period for cancer?

First, the disease must be identified. We give chemotherapy. It is also given by injection. Radiotherapy is needed if cancer has spread. Blood cancer treatment can take two to three years. The first 6 months should be treated by staying near the hospital. Some cancers are treated within 6 months to a year. However, regular follow-up is a must.

Do all the children suffering from cancer in Nepal have access to treatment? What is the situation?

Considering the population of Nepal, 1500 to 2000 cancer patients should have been detected. However, looking at the children in other hospitals, only one-third of them have access to treatment. Therefore, people should be aware that children can also get cancer. If the child is treated in the first stage, it is cured well and completely. Timely treatment reduces the chance of recurrence.

Has the accessibility to cancer treatment been affected by the lack of knowledge about the facilities provided by the government?

The facilities provided by the government alone are not enough to treat cancer. For treatment, you have to come from outside and stay near the hospital. So it costs a lot. Children have been deprived of treatment due to the belief that cancer cannot be cured even if it is treated.

What can the government and other agencies do to ensure the accessibility of cancer victims to the treatment available?

To ensure accessibility there should be children’s hospitals (government hospitals) in all seven provinces. Such hospitals should be able to employ trained nurses. The first task is to spread public awareness that cancer can be cured if treated in time.

What are the things that parents should pay attention to?

If the child has a fever for a long time, he should be taken to the hospital in time. A proper consultation with the doctor is necessary. The mother’s abstaining from drinking and smoking can help in getting keeping the baby healthy while still in the womb.

What should one pay attention to in order to ensure that there is no future risk in a child who has been treated for cancer once?

After five years of regular cancer treatment, we say the cancer is cured. If the child goes on follow-up regularly for five years as per the doctor’s advice, the disease does not recur. A child once diagnosed with cancer can lead a normal life after complete treatment.

What should be done to reduce the vulnerability of cancer in children?

Environmental pollution, and the use of chemical fertilizers should be reduced so that children do not get cancer. It is best to seek treatment as soon as symptoms appear.

As a pediatrician, what do you suggest to protect children from cancer?

We all need to understand that even children can get cancer. It should be remembered cancer is a curable disease. It is curable if treated in time. In the context of Nepal, 70 to 75 percent of cancer victims children have been cured of this disease. After treatment, children can lead normal lives and support their families.