Major Findings from the AIIMS-coordinated Childhood Cancer Survivorship Study
A new nationwide Indian study on childhood cancer survivors — coordinated by AIIMS New Delhi along with multiple cancer centres — has shown very encouraging results for children who completed treatment and went into remission:
- 94.5% five-year overall survival rate: This means that nearly 95 out of every 100 children diagnosed with cancer before age 18 are alive five years after treatment.
- High event-free survival (nearly 90%): Most children not only survived but remained free of major cancer-related complications during that period.
- In a subgroup followed for at least two years after treatment, survival rates were even higher (about 98.2% overall and 95.7% event-free).
- The study collected data from over 5,400 children treated at 20 centres across India, making it one of the first large survivorship registries in a low-resource setting.
🎗️ What This Means
✔️ Many young cancer survivors are living healthy, normal lives after treatment, which is a major relief for families and aligns with global survival gains in pediatric oncology.
✔️ This resilience shows progress in childhood cancer care in India, from early diagnosis to effective treatment and follow-up.
⚠️ Continued Care Is Important
While survival rates are high, researchers caution that survivors can still face late health effects — such as heart or hormone issues — that can develop months or years after treatment ends. This underscores the need for ongoing follow-up care and support services.
In short: The AIIMS-linked research offers real hope — showing that most children who defeat cancer can go on to live long, healthy lives, while also highlighting the need for continued monitoring to address any long-term challenges.
