Dr. Suraj Perera, a Consultant Community Physician with the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP), stated that approximately 200 children with cancer die annually in Sri Lanka, a situation that could be mitigated through timely and proper medical treatment.
He shared these insights during a media briefing organized by the Health Promotion Bureau, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and intervention.
“In 2022, 904 children were diagnosed with cancer. Over the past 15 years, the number of childhood cancer cases has remained relatively stable, typically ranging between 600 and 800 annually. Currently, around 900 cases are reported each year,” Dr. Perera noted.
According to the Department of the Registrar General, about 200 children died of cancer in 2019. While data from 2020 was also collected, it confirms that on average, around 200 children with cancer die in Sri Lanka each year.
Dr. Perera emphasized that many of these deaths involve patients who had the potential to recover but were diagnosed too late. He stressed that timely medical intervention can reduce both mortality and complications associated with childhood cancer.
