Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: A recent report by Cuddles Foundation has shed light on the critical role of nutrition in childhood cancer care, revealing that the majority of children diagnosed with cancer in India are undernourished. The report, titled Food Heals Report 2024, emphasizes how malnutrition severely hampers the treatment and recovery process for pediatric cancer patients across the country.
According to the findings, an estimated 76,000 children in India are diagnosed with cancer annually, and between 57% to 61% of these children are malnourished by the time they receive their first nutrition consultation. The widespread issue of undernutrition is significantly compromising their ability to withstand cancer treatments, leading to higher rates of complications, infections, and poorer overall outcomes.
“Malnutrition is one of the greatest challenges in pediatric cancer care,” said Purnota Dutta Bahl, Founder and CEO of Cuddles Foundation. “Proper nutrition gives these children the strength they need to endure difficult treatments and the best chance at recovery.”
Childhood cancers in India remain a significant public health concern, with limited programs and policies specifically targeting pediatric oncology care. Currently, pediatric oncology departments are available in only 41.6% of public hospitals, 48.6% of private hospitals, and 64% of non-governmental organizations (NGO)-managed tertiary hospitals. These statistics highlight the gaps in specialized cancer care for children.
The Food Heals Report 2024 highlights how inadequate nutrition is affecting survival rates and the quality of life for children battling cancer in India. Over the last three years, this issue has persisted, with many newly diagnosed pediatric cancer patients consuming less than half of their daily required calories and protein, making them more susceptible to infections and other complications.
Dr. Pradeep Chandrakar, Professor of Radiation Oncology at Regional Cancer Centre, Pt. JNM Medical College in Raipur, emphasized the challenges, stating, “Children with cancer often face malnutrition due to their increased calorie needs and poor nutrition caused by loss of appetite, poverty, and lack of education. Beginning treatment in such children is extremely difficult.”
Experts also pointed out that improving cancer outcomes requires integrating nutritional support at every stage of treatment. Dr. Manas Kalra, Senior Consultant in Pediatric Hematology at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi, stressed, “Transforming childhood cancer care begins with nutrition. We need to ensure nutritional support is included from diagnosis to recovery.”
The report also revealed an alarming shortage of specialized nutritionists in Indian hospitals. Accredited cancer hospitals have a nutritionist-to-patient ratio of 1:54, while non-accredited hospitals face a staggering ratio of 1:407. Immediate investments in nutrition services, better training, and structured Nutrition Care Processes (NCP) are urgently needed to support pediatric cancer care in India.
The Food Heals Report 2024 calls for targeted nutrition interventions in pediatric oncology care, personalized nutrition plans, and the recruitment of more specialized nutritionists. The goal is to prevent any child from losing their battle against cancer due to inadequate nutrition.
With coordinated efforts and increased investment in nutritional care, the hope is that no child in India will have to face a compromised fight against cancer due to malnutrition.
