COLOMBO – Sri Lanka records between 900 and 1,000 new cancer cases annually among children and adolescents under the age of 19, a senior health official said on Wednesday (9).
Consultant Community Physician at the National Cancer Control Program (NCCP), Dr. Suraj Perera, said the most commonly diagnosed cancers among children and adolescents include leukaemia, lymphoma, brain tumours, bone and eye cancers.
Speaking at a media briefing held at the Health Promotion Bureau on Wednesday, Dr Perera stressed that early detection and timely access to appropriate treatment could significantly improve the chances of recovery.
He said raising awareness among parents, caregivers and the wider public was crucial to ensuring that warning signs are identified early and children receive medical attention without delay.
The National Cancer Control Program held the media briefing in conjunction with Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, which is observed globally in September to raise awareness of cancers affecting children and adolescents and the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.
-ENCL
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