India's Cancer Survivors: High Survival, Lingering Health Issues

India's pioneering nationwide registry for childhood cancer survivors has reported a significant achievement: a 94.5% five-year overall survival rate. This finding is based on data from 5,140 children across 20 centers, with results published in The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia in February 2026. The registry, initiated in 2016 and coordinated by AIIMS New Delhi, aims to track the long-term well-being of these young patients after they complete treatment and are in remission.

While survival rates are encouraging, the registry also sheds light on the challenges many survivors face. Approximately one-third to one-half of childhood cancer survivors globally experience long-term health complications, some of which can be life-threatening. These late effects can manifest as heart problems, hormonal imbalances, learning difficulties, or emotional distress, emerging months or years after treatment cessation. The study plans a second phase to examine these specific late effects and develop India-specific survivorship guidelines.

Acute leukemia was the most common cancer among those registered, followed by Hodgkin lymphoma and bone tumors. Researchers noted that loss to follow-up remains a significant concern, particularly for adolescents and those from lower-income backgrounds, often due to distance and financial constraints. The study recommends enhanced counseling, awareness programs, and tele-survivorship models to improve adherence to follow-up care.