Nearly 1,000 Sri Lankan Children Diagnosed with Cancer Annually

Nearly 900 to 1,000 children and adolescents under the age of 19 are diagnosed with cancer annually in Sri Lanka, according to Dr. Suraj Perera, Consultant Community Physician at the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP). Data from the National Cancer Registry indicates that the most common types of childhood cancers include leukemia, lymphoma, brain tumors, bone cancers, and eye cancers. Dr. Perera stressed that early detection and timely treatment significantly improve the chances of a cure for these young patients.