title: Impact of cancer support groups on childhood cancer treatment and abandonment in a private pediatric oncology centre.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the impact of two cancer support groups in the treatment and abandonment of childhood cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective review of children with cancer funded and non-funded who were treated at Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital from 2010 to 2013. A total of 100 patients were funded, 57 by Ray of Light Foundation and 43 by Pediatric Lymphoma Project and 70 non-funded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total current survival of 80%, including those who have completed treatment and those currently undergoing treatment, is comparable in both the groups. Abandonment of treatment after initiating therapy was not seen in the financially supported group whereas abandonment of treatment after initiation was seen in one child in the non-funded group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Besides intensive treatment with good supportive care, financial support also has an important impact on compliance and abandonment in all socioeconomic strata of society. Financial support from private cancer support groups also has its impact beyond the patient and family, in reducing the burden on government institutions by non-governmental funding in private sector. Improvement in the delivery of pediatric oncology care in developing countries could be done by financial support from the private sector.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, CHILDS Trust Medical Research Foundation, Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Arathi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Srinivasan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, CHILDS Trust Medical Research Foundation, Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Khushboo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tiwari
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, CHILDS Trust Medical Research Foundation, Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Julius Xavier
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery and Trustee, Ray of Light Foundation, CHILDS Trust Medical Research Foundation, Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Priya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ramachandran
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery and Chairperson, Pediatric Lymphoma Project, CHILDS Trust Medical Research Foundation, Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Mathangi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramakrishnan
keywords: Abandonment; Cancer support groups; Childhood cancer; Financial support