Cancer is the second leading cause of death in children younger than 15 years of age. Blood cancer (Leukemia) account for 30 to 60 percent of paediatric cancers. These are followed by tumor of the brain, bone and liver. The most striking feature about childhood cancer over the last 2 decades is the continuing improvement and increasing success of treatment. The survival for most cancers in the West has increased from 50% in 1973 to over 80% currently. The modern definition of “cure” for children includes disappearance of cancer and the re-integration of the child into a successful life in social terms. The cure of the child saves the entire life time.

In a small proportion of cases who do not respond to any of the above, newer modalities of therapy which are targeting cancer causing genes are offering hope. This is gonna be ground breaking in the years to come. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment has yielded excellent overall survival rates.