Emotional support crucial for children battling cancer

GUWAHATI: Eight-year-old Manu Boro is no longer scared of chemotherapy sessions and though he cannot play outdoors like children his age, he hopes his situation will improve as the doctors of B Barooah Cancer Institute (BBCI)'s paediatric care unit are providing psychological and emotional support to children battling the deadly disease. Munlima Hazarika, oncologist, pediatric care unit, said: "We get very small children - some of them between five and eight - who have to undergo painful sessions of chemotherapy.It is necessary to ensure they do not feel scared or nervous of the treatment."
The treatment of paediatric cancer is now focusing on a multidrug protocol, where a number of drugs are used to kill cancer cells. "We do not know the exact effect of each drug and each acts differently on varying cancerous cells. That is the reason a number of drugs are used, but the limitation of the drug is also kept in mind. Plus, there are a lot of supportive drugs as well," she said.
In the northeast, haematocogical malignancy, retinoplastoma (eye cancer), bone cancer, brain tumour and kidney tumor and the common types of cancer among children. Though the chance of cure is higher for children, chemotherapy may cause a second malignancy. Some drugs may even cause cancer in other parts of the body.
As per BBCI data, of the 180 new cancer patents last year, 52 were children had leukemia, 28 were suffering from lymphoma, 27 from retinoplastoma and the others from tumors. "Chemo sessions and even some particular drugs may cause a relapse or even cause cancer in a different part of the body. In such cases, we try to at least preserve the organ," Hazarika said. She added that as far as children are concerned, the focus is on keeping them positive and giving them mental support so that they respond to the treatment better. Mrinmoy Das, a four-year-old child undergoing treatment at BBCI, said: "I get to paint and talk to the other children here. The doctors too are very good and caring."
K Bhagabati, medical officer, palliative medicine, BBCI, said: "Every day we get three to four children from the age group of five to 10 who complain of pain, swelling and inability to eat. Most of the time, it is the fear psychosis. We have to counsel them and the parents. It is tough to counsel a child who is battling a disease like cancer, but unless we provide support, they would not respond to treatment."