According to a report issued by the National Cancer Control Program affiliated to the Ministry of Health, the number of childhood cancer cases reported annually in Sri Lanka is close to 900. The same report says that cancer patients in the age group from birth to 19 years of age are called childhood cancer patients.
Commenting further on this, from the National Cancer Control Program’s Community Medicine Unit, Dr. Suraj Perera, a specialist, says that an awareness program is implemented in September every year regarding children’s cancer patients.
Specialist Dr. Suraj Perera says that 471 boys and 454 girls are newly diagnosed with childhood cancer and many childhood cancers can be cured by treatment.
He added that 80% to 90% of children’s cancers can be cured compared to adult cancers.