Patna: Between 2,000 and 3,000 children in Bihar are diagnosed with cancer every year, health officials have said, highlighting both the growing burden of the disease and the improving outcomes made possible by early diagnosis and modern treatment.
Medical experts estimate that nearly 80% of affected children recover fully when cancer is detected early and treated appropriately. Nationwide, around 70,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year, according to the Association of Radiation Oncologists of India (AROI).
In Bihar, blood cancer, particularly leukaemia, accounts for about 40% of all childhood cancer cases. Other commonly reported cancers include those affecting the kidney, liver, bones, adrenal glands, lymphatic system and spinal cord.
Hospitals in Patna have emerged as key treatment centres for paediatric cancer patients from across the state. Over the past year, 658 children have successfully completed treatment at government and private facilities including IGIMS, PMCH, NMCH, AIIMS Patna, the Mahavir Cancer Institute and the Buddha Cancer Center. Doctors say patients now routinely travel to the capital from all districts of Bihar seeking specialised care.
According to oncologists, cancer treatment tends to be more effective in children than in adults, with higher success rates seen in surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. While some childhood cancers are congenital or linked to genetic factors, doctors also point to environmental risks such as pollution, pesticide exposure, DNA mutations and parental smoking as possible contributors.
Hospitals in Patna are currently seeing between 40 and 50 children each day with suspected cancer symptoms. Physicians stress the importance of early medical consultation if children experience persistent fever, unexplained fatigue, unusual lumps or swelling, frequent nosebleeds or bleeding gums, or ongoing pain in bones and joints.
A specialised doctor said the fear traditionally associated with cancer needed to be replaced with awareness and timely action. The doctor highlighted advances in medical science, including immunotherapy, targeted therapies, artificial intelligence-based diagnostics and modern chemotherapy, which have made cancer treatment safer and more effective than in the past.
Doctors continue to emphasise that early detection remains the most critical factor in improving survival rates among children with cancer.
