The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Some five to six thousand children in Bangladesh get attacked with childhood cancers every year.

Some 60 to 70 per cent of childhood cancer patients can be cured if timely and proper medical care can be provided and other necessary measures are taken. But scanty facilities, huge expenses and prolonged treatment are the main hindrances to achieving this goal.

This was disclosed at a press conference organised by Bangladesh Childhood Cancer Society (BCCS) at the National Press Club in the city yesterday in observance of World Cancer Day.

Prof MA Mannan, President of BCCS and Chairman of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), presided over the conference.

Speakers said costs of treatment for a childhood cancer patient ranges between Tk 50,000 and Tk 5,00,000. Time period involved varies from six months to three years. Because of its specialised nature, treatment requires constant monitoring under the specialist doctors and in the specialised logistic support, which is nearly non-existent in places other than Dhaka.

Childhood cancer patients from marginal income or have-not groups are faced with the mortal penalty of the failures in receiving proper treatment. They also cannot afford the heavy lodging and other incidental expenses in Dhaka for a long time, they said.

Death rate of childhood cancer is high. The ratio of cancer death in the total scenario has increased as deaths from common diseases like pneumonia, diarrhoea and others has drastically dropped due to healthcare development in the country, experts said.

The World Cancer Day rally will be held in the city, which will start at 8:30am from BSMMU Bot Tola and end at the National Press Club today (Monday), they said.

Sadeque Ali, former president of Dhaka Rotary Club, Eng ADM Alauddin, Secretary General of BCCS, Dr Chowdhury Yakub Jamal, Treasurer, Dr ATM Atiqur Rahman of BCCS, among others, were present at the conference.