Malnutrition plays a major role in childhood cancer diagnosis in India.

A report titled Food Heals Report 2024, released by Cuddles Foundation, a non-profit organisation that works with 40 public hospitals across 14 states in India, has highlighted the alarming impact of malnutrition on child cancer care and how most children suffering from cancer are malnourished.

Childhood cancer is a major public health concern in India, primarily because of the lack of specific programmes and policies to control childhood cancer.

Across the country, paediatric oncology departments are available in 41.6% public, 48.6% private and 64% non-government organisation (NGO)-managed tertiary level hospitals.

According to the findings, an estimated 76,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year, and 57% to 61% of them are malnourished at the time of their first nutrition consultation.

This widespread malnutrition impedes their ability to tolerate treatment, leading to more complications, infections, and poorer treatment outcomes. The report highlights the critical role of nutrition in pediatric oncology care, emphasizing that malnutrition remains a major barrier to effective treatment.

The survival rates and quality of life of thousands of children with cancer in India are being affected by inadequate nutrition, a problem that has persisted for the past three years.

Purnota Dutta Bahl, Founder and CEO, Cuddles Foundation, stressed the urgent need to raise awareness and support to address the issue.

He said, “The findings of the Food Heals Report 2024 underscore a heartbreaking reality: malnutrition is one of the biggest challenges in pediatric cancer care. Proper nutrition gives these brave children the strength to endure grueling treatments and gives them the best chance of recovery.”

Bahl called for more specialist nutritionists, better training and prioritising nutrition as an integral part of cancer care. “Together we can ensure that no child loses their battle due to lack of proper nutrition,” she said.

The report further highlights that 65% of newly diagnosed pediatric cancer patients consume less than half of their daily required calories and protein, significantly reducing their ability to tolerate treatment and increasing their susceptibility to infection, thereby impeding growth and recovery.

“Children suffering from cancer are usually malnourished due to their extra calorie requirement and poor nutrition due to loss of appetite, poverty, lack of education, etc. It is very difficult and challenging to start any kind of treatment in these children,” said Dr Pradeep Chandrakar, Professor Radiation Oncology, Regional Cancer Centre, Pandit JNM Medical College, Raipur.

He said that during this period children can fall victim to infections and other complications of treatment.

Therefore, it is necessary to provide proper nutrition to children to fight cancer.

According to Dr Manas Kalra, Senior Consultant, Paediatric Hematology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, “Changing the future of paediatric cancer care starts with nutrition.”

Dr Kalra said nutritional care, which is often overlooked in paediatric oncology, is key to improving treatment for children.

“We need to ensure that nutritional support is integrated at every stage of cancer treatment, from diagnosis to recovery,” he said.

The report also highlights the shortage of specialist nutritionists in Indian hospitals.

The nutritionist-patient ratio in accredited cancer hospitals is 1:54, while in non-accredited hospitals the ratio is even more worrying at 1:407.

According to experts, there is an urgent need for investments to increase the availability of nutrition services, provide specialized training for nutritionists, and establish a structured nutrition care process (NCP) in pediatric oncology care.

The report advocates for personalized nutrition care as it enhances recovery and improves long-term health. It calls for “mandatory targeted nutrition interventions in pediatric oncology care” as well as more funding and the recruitment of more pediatric oncology nutritionists to meet the growing needs of children with cancer.

With coordinated efforts and investments, it is hoped that no child will lose the battle against cancer due to malnutrition, the study authors wrote.