CHILDHOOD CANCERS Childhood cancers are those that affect individuals under the age of 15 years. The most common types include cancers such as leukemias (blood cancers), brain tumours , lymphomas, and solid tumours like neuroblastoma and Wilmstumour. Globally, approximately 400,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year. In India, more than 50,000 new childhood cancer cases occur every year. Survival rates for childhood cancers have improved over the past few decades, reaching around 80-90%.Survival rates are low in developing countries like India.
Childhood cancer not only has adverse physical and emotional effects on the affected children but also has profound impact on their families and society at large. In many cases, the exact cause of childhood cancer remains unknown. Childhood cancers are typically not preventable through lifestyle changes, as is the case with some adult cancers. Ongoing research is essential to further understand the risk factors associated with pediatric cancers.
My father passed away due to lung cancer on Feb 1 2003, at Fr Mullers Hospital, Mangalore. It was my promise to him that I would help cancer patients at their terminal stages. This promise was realized in 2007 when we setup Ave Maria Palliative care under the CDSE organization. I am grateful to Professor Clement Dsouza(late) who was instrumental in bringing together Dr Lavina Noronha, Dr Rita Noronha and myself and getting this facility off the ground which has helped thousands of terminally ill patients as well as relieved the family members from stress and pain.
My daughter Neola was born in 2005 in the US as a 24-week premature baby weighing just 643 grams and was miraculously saved as a normal baby. The Lord was merciful enough on us to have Neola without any long term ailment, thanks to the skill and passion of medical professionals of NICU at Inova Fairfax hospital in Virginia. If that was not the case, my wife Nancy and I would have had to spend our entire lifetime caring for our child. How would we pay back to the Lord? We were looking for a cause that could have a profound impact on small children who are suffering due to variety of reasons in impoverished sections of the society.
A crisis of catastrophic proportion emerging in India currently is the rising burden of non-communicable diseases, labelled briefly as NCDs. These do not cause havoc in the lives of people all at once but kill them one by one. Gradually sapping the vital energy of persons, such diseases cause much pain, misery, disability and premature deaths, leaving in their wake unbearable suffering and penury for all the near and dear ones – children and mothers in particular.
Childhood is the age where children have a lot of fun, wishes and desires. But for children with cancer, it is battle against the odds. These children are an inspiration in their ability to put aside their pain and sorrow and make the best of whatever life has to offer.
A radio program was held at Sarang 107.8 FM community radio station at St Aloysius College on October 10, 2018, from 10-11 am to create awareness on CEDSE Care Child Cancer (CCC).
A Live telecast in Daijiowrld 24*7 – Kaal Aaz ani Faalyam on the subject of Child Cancer and our Aim was held from 9.00 to 10.00pm on October 4, 2018. Dr B Shantharam Baliga, Dr Rita Noronha and Mr Herald Moras represented CEDSE – Care Child Cancer. Dr Baliga spoke on Child cancer – types, symptoms, causes and need for prevention and health promotion. Information about CEDSE – vision, mission, initiatives in relation to justice, healing and sustainable development including the origin and progress of the childhood cancer programme was provided by Dr Rita Noronha.
Every child has a right to play or leisure. This right is often denied to children who are under long-term and frequent admission in the hospital for serious ailments such as cancer. One method adopted by us at CEDSE CCC was to distribute toys to all children (not only children directly under out care) whenever an event is arranged in the oncology wards of the three hospitals we cover. The ward would transform into a play centre with children forgetting their pain for some time and parents sharing in their joy. Age appropriate and safe toys do bring some joy into the lives of children.
CEDSE- Care Child Cancer 