‘Timely diagnosis of cancer helps children recover fast’

Lucknow: Over 300 cancer survivors, their parents, doctors, officers and public participated in a bicycle rally organised to create awareness about cancer amongst children on the occasion of International Childhood Cancer Day. The programme was organised by the Cankids Kidscan organisation in collaboration with Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS), Lucknow, on Thursday.

The bicycle rally was taken from RMLIMS to 1090 crossing after it was flagged off by chief secretary Durga Shankar Mishra, at RMLIMS. “Timely identification of cancer is important for treatment. Possibility of treating children suffering from cancer with the right protocol has to be highlighted because recovery rate among children is higher than it is in adults,” said Mishra.

On request of the cancer survivor children, he rode a bicycle. “There are several new techniques for treatment of cancer in children and their recovery rate is higher if it is diagnosed in its early stage,” said Prof Soniya Nityananda, VC, KGMU.

Dr Geetika Pant of department of paediatric oncology at the Cancer Institute said, “If children show symptoms like headache, anaemia, nausea and prolonged fever, they should not be ignored as these could be signs of cancer and can be defeated with timely treatment. Besides, there are many govt schemes for free treatment of the under-privileged.”