Improving Outcomes in Children with Cancer

Abstract

Data of children receiving chemotherapy (age 0 – 18 years) were retrospectively collected over a study period of 2½ years (November 2018–June 2021). Age, sex, underlying diagnosis and their current disease status were recorded and analyzed. A total of 88 children with cancer have received chemotherapy in the study period. Of these, 65 children who were primarily treated in our unit were included in further analysis. The median age is five years (range 7 months–17 years) and M:F = 32:33. The underlying diagnosis include B-ALL (35), T-ALL (4), Hodgkin lymphoma (4), T-Lymphoblastic Lymphoma (2), AML (2), Ewing sarcoma (2), Germ cell tumour (2), Langerhans cell histiocytosis (2), Medulloblastoma (2), Rhabdomyosarcoma (2), Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (1), Mixed Phenotype Acute Leukemia (1), Burkitt Lymphoma (1), Neuroblastoma (1), Wilms tumour (1), Relapse ALL (1), Relapse Rhabdomyosarcoma (1) and Relapse Hodgkin lymphoma (1). In a median follow up 13 months (range: 0–31 months), the survival rate is 93.8% (61/65). Six children are on initial phase of therapy and awaiting response assessment. Among others, 88% (52/59) children are in complete remission (CR) of their disease (CR1 in 48 and CR2 in 4). Three children are in palliative care due to refractory disease and/or caretakers’ choice. Cancer in children is highly curable. Treatment should be made accessible and affordable for all affected children.