Number of childhood cancer patients up

Number of childhood cancer patients up
Published 22 September 2019

 

The number of children with cancer aged under 14 has increased by around 1,500 a year, said Childhood Cancer Specialist Dr. Aye Aye Khaing from Childhood Cancer Department at Yangon Children’s Hospital.

“The incidence of childhood cancer is different from country to country. In Myanmar, the nationwide cancer survey called national cancer registry is still broad. Cancer registry can be done only at the relevant township hospitals. It is difficult to know the exact number of cancer patients in the country. Our neighbouring countries have conducted cancer surveys. Based on the calculation of our populations, the number of new cancer patients may reach around 1500. As a matter of fact, last year, we gave treatment to around 800 patients in Yangon and Mandalay. Half of them were covered,” she added.

Last year, 373 child cancer patients registered in Yangon Children’s Hospital and around 300, in Mandalay Hospital.

The Blood and Cancer Ward at Yangon Children’s Hospital was opened in 2003. Around 75 childhood cancer in-patients receive treatment at the Yangon Children’s Hospital every day. It receives 70 to 100 out-patients a day. The hospital provides treatment to cancer patients using internationally-recognized therapies.

The childhood cancer patients with stage-1 and 2 have an 80-per-cent survival rate.