Many low-income Indian families are unable to complete treatment for their children because of lack of resources. When quality treatment that includes essential medication and cutting-edge technologies is made accessible and affordable, survival rates improve.
Despite the increasing incidence of childhood cancer, more than 80% of children with cancer in high income countries are cured. In India, more than 50,000 new cases are reported each year – and less than 40% complete treatment. Childhood cancer has the best prognosis when diagnosed early, coupled with treatment in tertiary care centres with multidisciplinary teams.
Tiara provides financial support in the areas of chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, laboratory investigations, imaging procedures, central venous devices and palliative care.
Retinoblastoma
A rare cancer of the retina, Retinoblastoma is most seen in children. Even though retinoblastoma is a treatable cancer that can be cured if diagnosed early, most families in India incur heavy out of pocket (OOP) expenditure and often discontinue treatment due to affordability. Access to high quality care is a major barrier faced by families as there are only a few centres of excellence for Retinoblastoma, across the world.
Sankara Nethralaya and the L V Prasad Eye Institute are highly specialised centres, with advanced facilities and expert care. Their priority is to save the child’s life, followed by preservation of sight and minimization of side effects or complications that may arise during treatment. In association with Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, Tiara’s Project Retinoblastoma sponsors chemotherapy, intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC), diagnostic investigations and radiation for affected children.
Rehabilitation is crucial for young children. Despite many advances in treatment, removal of the eye is sometimes unavoidable. In association with the L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, Tiara sponsors the cost of Customised Ocular Prostheses for children whose eyes have been enucleated. This well-fitting implant is designed to resemble the original eye as closely as possible, thereby restoring the child’s self-confidence and rehabilitating them to their normal lives.