Cancer in children does not necessarily lead to death

Cancer is the leading cause of death among children in developed countries. Due to a lack of precise data, however, the death rate for children with cancer is unknown in Pakistan ," said Dr Barkat Hooda, Assistant Professor and Consultant Paediatric Haematologist and Oncologist at the Paediatrics Department of Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH). Dr Hooda made these observations while giving a presentation on "Cancers in Children-at-Signs, Symptomsand Care", a monthly public health awareness programme, on July 3, 2004 , in Karachi .

Dr Barkat Hooda, Assistant Professor and Consultant Paediatric Haematologist and Oncologist, Paediatrics Department, AKU speaking at 'Signs, Symptoms and Care', a monthly health awareness programme.

AKUH's health awareness programmes started in 1993 with the objective of increasing awareness of early diagnosis and timely treatment of diseases. So far some 160 programmes have been organised in Karachi , Hyderabad , Dubai and Abu Dhabi , attracting and benefiting over 33,000 participants.

Dr. Barkat Hooda, Assistant Professor and Consultant Paediatric Haematologist and Oncologist, Paediatrics Department, AKU speaking at Signs, Symptoms and Care. Also seen in the photograph are the panellist (L to R): Dr Zehra Fadoo, Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatrics, AKU and Dr Zafar Nazir, Associate Professor and Head of Paediatric Surgery Section, AKU.

Dr Hooda discussed various misconceptions about cancer, particularly its prognosis. Stressing that diagnosis of cancer does not necessarily mean a death sentence for the child, he added that “the survival rate for children with cancer in developed countries has substantially increased in the last two decades and 70 per cent of children with the malignant disorder survive.” He was of the view that a similar survival rate can be replicated in Pakistan by setting up cancer centres with a multi-disciplinary team approach and through institutions working on a national level

The speaker and the panellists, Dr Zafar Nazir, Associate Professor and Head of Paediatric Surgery Section at AKU and Dr Zehra Fadoo, Assistant Professor in Department of Paediatrics, AKU, participated in the question-and-answer session at the end of the programme.

Over 70 per cent of patients treated at AKUH come from low- to middle-income areas. Since the inception of the Hospital’s Patient Welfare Programme in 1986, over Rs. 1.05 billion has been disbursedto more than 200,000 needy patients. In addition, the Patients’ Behbud Society for AKUH also disburses Zakat contributions to the financially disadvantaged.