In India, almost 50,000 youngsters receive a cancer diagnosis each year. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month worldwide. 7-8 out of 10 children can be cured with proper diagnosis and suitable therapy. The “CanCare” Campaign was started by Narayana Hospital in Howrah in collaboration with CanKids KidsCan to increase public awareness of childhood malignancies. The campaign stands for awareness, resiliency, and optimism. The program aims to empower and educate communities by providing opportunities for parents and teachers to interact and by organizing happy, entertaining events for kids in schools.

Thirty young cancer fighters and their parents, the hospital’s committed oncology team, Mr. Tapani Ghosh, Facility Director of Narayana Hospital, Howrah, and representatives from CanKids attended the heartwarming and hopeful inaugural event. The hospital hopes to raise awareness of the early warning signals of children’s malignancies and emphasize the value of prompt treatment through this effort.

“Our commitment to early identification and compassionate care for children battling cancer is demonstrated by our partnership with CanKids for the CanCare campaign. To ensure that no child’s battle is overlooked, we want to build an informed network by interacting with parents, teachers, and schools” said Mr. Tapani Ghosh, Facility Director, Narayana Hospital, Howrah.

Dr. Suman Mallik, Clinical Lead & Senior Consultant – Radiation Oncology at Narayana Hospital, Howrah, said, “Compared to adult cancers, childhood tumors are frequently more curable with cutting-edge therapies. Early detection of childhood malignancies can lead to far better results. We want to educate the community through this campaign so that caregivers, educators, and parents can identify the early signs and get help right away. We intend to provide every family with a sense of support throughout the way”.

 The start of the “CanCare” campaign signifies the start of a much bigger movement. In the upcoming weeks, many schools will be contacted to conduct awareness programs that will encourage candid discussions on children’s cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment.

The occasion serves as a symbol of hope and advancement, making sure that no child’s fight with cancer is overlooked and encouraging empathy and understanding among neighbors.

Priyanka Dutta