Bhubaneswar, September 30: AIIMS Bhubaneswar is going to start Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the Medical Oncology/Hematology Department for pediatric cancer patients, said AIIMS Bhubaneswar Executive Director Dr Ashutosh Biswas on Saturday.
Biswas was speaking at an event organised in the national institute to increase awareness on childhood cancer.
“Through a multidisciplinary approach, the Department of Medical Oncology/Hematology at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, has been rendering holistic, quality and affordable care to the children with cancer. This is the only governmental institution providing specialized cancer care to children by trained faculty in this part of the country,” said Biswas.
Biswas said, we cater not only to the State of Odisha, but also pediatric patients from the nearby states like West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.
“The department has registered more than 1200 children with cancer and currently treats around 250-300 new patients per year,” added Dr. Biswas.
“The outcome in pediatric cancers has changed from seemingly incurable diseases to survival exceeding 80-90% in the last 50 years,” said Dr. Sonali Mohapatra, Addl. Prof. Dept. of Medical Oncology/Hematology AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
In the current era, more than 75-80% of childhood cancer patients can be cured completely, with survival exceeding 90% in certain cancers like acute lymphoblastic leukemia (blood cancer), lymphomas and renal tumours like Wilms Tumour, said Dr. Mohapatra.
At AIIMS Bhubaneswar, the department also integrates academics and research into clinical care; DM course in Pediatric Hematology Oncology has been started for capacity building and further improvement in patient care, academics and research.
It may be noted here that September is observed as Childhood Cancer awareness month worldwide.
