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International Childhood Cancer Day
Karnataka reported an estimated 1,882 childhood cancer cases in 2025, indicating a gradual year-on-year rise. The development highlights the growing burden of paediatric malignancies and the need for early diagnosis and treatment access.
Childhood Cancer :
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Definition | Cancers occurring in children and adolescents aged 0–19 years |
| State Data | 1,882 estimated childhood cancer cases in Karnataka in 2025 forming about 2.1% of all new cancer cases |
| Global Burden | About 400,000 children develop cancer annually worldwide |
| Genetic Predisposition | About 10% of childhood cancers have a genetic predisposition |
| Major Causes | Genetic changes in cells, errors during cell division, inherited mutations and DNA damage due to infections such as HIV, Epstein-Barr virus and malaria |
| Symptoms | Fever, persistent headaches, bone pain, weight loss, unusual swellings, pallor, bruising, fatigue, white reflex in eye and enlarged lymph nodes |
| Vulnerable Groups | Children in low- and middle-income countries and poor households with limited access to diagnosis and treatment |
| Treatment Modalities | Chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy and bone marrow transplantation with supportive and psychosocial care |
| Cure Rates | Above 80% in high-income countries and below 30% in many low- and middle-income countries |
| International Day | International Childhood Cancer Day observed on 15 February |
| Financial Support | Ayushman Bharat – Arogya Karnataka provides up to ₹5 lakh per year for BPL families |
| Prevention Measures | Vaccination against Hepatitis B and HPV and early treatment of chronic infections |
| Major Types | Carcinoma, Sarcoma, Leukaemia, Lymphoma, Multiple Myeloma, Melanoma, Brain and Spinal Cord Tumours, Germ Cell Tumours and Neuroendocrine Tumours |