Alwar, 15th November 2024: To address one of India’s critical healthcare challenges—blood cancer in children and their advanced treatments—Medanta - The Medicity, a leading multi-specialty hospital, conducted an awareness session for paediatricians in Alwar. Led by Dr. S P Yadav, Director of Paediatric Haemato-Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant at Medanta, the session aimed to educate the medical community on Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) and CAR T-Cell Therapy as life-saving treatment options for conditions like childhood blood cancer and blood disorders. The initiative highlighted the importance of these cutting-edge therapies in addressing the growing burden of these serious conditions. Blood cancer, or hematologic cancer, affects the blood, bone marrow, or lymphatic system. It occurs when DNA mutations cause abnormal blood cells to multiply uncontrollably, disrupting the body's ability to fight infections and heal properly. Each year, over 300,000 children are diagnosed with cancer globally, with India accounting for more than 50,000 new cases annually. Among these, leukaemia is the most common, making up about 30% of all childhood cancers. Leukaemia can occur at any age but is most diagnosed in children aged 2 to 6 , with cases peaking at 46% for 2- and 3-year-olds, dropping to 9% by age 19. While the condition can't be prevented, treatments for the same have evolved over the years, including options like Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT) and CAR T-cell therapy. BMT from a fully matched sibling donor has a success rate of over 90%, providing a potentially permanent cure. Additionally, CAR T-cell therapy, a cutting-edge immunotherapy, is an emerging option for treating some of the most difficult cases of childhood cancers like leukaemia and lymphoma. This therapy harnesses the body's own T cells, a type of immune cell, to target and destroy cancer cells. Dr. Satya Prakash Yadav, Director of Bone Marrow Transplant at Medanta, Gurugram, stated, "Despite advancements in treatment, blood cancer remains a significant health concern in India. Many patients, require bone marrow or stem cell transplants as their only chance of recovery. However, with only 0.09% of the population registered as potential blood stem cell donors, the gap in donor availability is alarming. This shortage is further exacerbated by a lack of awareness, diverse gene pool, and widespread misconceptions about the treatment which makes a huge gap in demand and supply in the country. Our efforts focus on educating families about the success rates, costs, and support systems associated with Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT) and emerging therapies like CAR T-cell therapy, which offer new hope for treating complex cases. By raising awareness and increasing donor registrations, we aim to close the gap between demand and supply and improve access to life-saving treatments." “He further emphasized the need for doctors, healthcare providers, policymakers, and the public to work together in raising awareness, dispelling myths, and creating a supportive environment for bone marrow transplants and CAR T-cell therapy. Through these collective efforts, we can save countless lives and significantly improve health outcomes for thousands of children affected by blood cancer.”