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Cancer-Updates

Childhood Cancers

6 de agosto de 2023

3 min de lectura

Childhood cancers, or pediatric cancers, are cancers that are typically found in children and adolescents. They form a group of diseases originating in different body parts.

Cancer is the leading cause of death in children past infancy in the U.S., although more than 80% of childhood cancer patients are long-term survivors. The survival rate depends on the type of cancer.

Childhood cancer causes

According to scientists, childhood cancers mainly occur due to genetic changes or mutations.

Six cancers, namely, oral/throat, cervical, anal, penile, vulvar, and vaginal, are caused by a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV) in adults. These diseases can be prevented by 90% by vaccinating children between 9 and 12.

Childhood cancer types

The most common cancers found in children along with their prevalence according to the American Cancer Society, are:

Leukemia (Blood cancer)

Leukemias, specifically acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), are the most common cancers in children and account for 28% of all childhood cancers. The symptoms of leukemia can include fatigue, joint pain, unexplained weight loss, bruises and bleeding, weakness, and other symptoms.

Brain and Spinal Cord Tumor

Brain and spinal cord tumors are the second most common cancers (26%) and can have symptoms like nausea, dizziness, headaches, seizures, and double or blurred vision.

Most brain tumors start in the lower part of the brain, like the brain stem or cerebellum. Tumors in the spinal cord are less common in both adults and children.

Lymphoma (Hodgkin’s and NonHodgkin’s)

The cancer often starts at the lymph nodes and can affect the bone marrow and other organs. Symptoms of lymphoma may include tiredness, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and sweats.

Lymphoma can be in the form of

Hodgkin’s Lymphoma: Hodgkin’s lymphoma is less common in children younger than five years and accounts for 3% of childhood cancers.
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma: Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is more common in younger children but rare in children younger than three years old. It accounts for 5% of childhood cancers.

Bone Cancers

Bone cancers account for 3% of all childhood cancers and start in the bones of older children or teens. Bone cancers in children are of two types:

Osteosarcoma: Common in teens, the cancer is found in areas where the bone grows, like the end of arm or leg bones. Symptoms include bone pain and swelling around the bone.
Ewing sarcoma: Common in young teens, the disease commonly starts at the hip bone, chest wall, and middle of leg bones. Symptoms include pain and swelling around the bone.

Retinoblastoma (Eye Cancer)

Eye cancer comprises about 2% of all childhood cancers and is commonly found in children between 2 and 6. Symptoms include a white or pink color pupil.

Wilms Tumor (Kidney Tumors)

Wilms tumor is commonly found in children of about 3 to 4 years old and occurs in one or rarely in both kidneys. The cancer can appear as a lump in the belly with other symptoms like nausea, poor appetite, fever, and pain.

Rhabdomyosarcoma

Rhabdomyosarcoma, accounting for 3% of all childhood cancers, is the most common type of soft tissue sarcoma in children. It can start in the arms, legs, neck, head, groin, abdomen, and pelvis, causing pain, swelling, or both.

Neuroblastoma (Nerve Cancer)

Neuroblastoma forms in the nerve cells in a fetus or embryo and accounts for 6% of all childhood cancers. Commonly found in infants and young children, the cancer forms as a tumor in the belly, with fever and bone pain as other symptoms.

Hepatoblastoma (Liver Cancer)

Hepatoblastoma is a primary liver tumor that occurs predominantly in children between the age of 1 and 3. Cancer symptoms include a lump in the upper right side of the abdomen, loss of appetite, nausea, change in skin color, fever, and abdominal pain.

Childhood Cancer Treatment

Childhood cancer treatment depends on the type of cancer and can include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, surgery, and sometimes immunotherapy. Sometimes the patients receive a combination of therapies to treat the cancers.

Post-Treatment Care

After the completion of the cancer treatments, the children continue to receive follow-up care for many years. Children receiving cancer treatments can have several health issues later on in life.

Children surviving cancer must take care of their health, get regular checkups and give details of their cancer history to their medical providers.

The National Children's Cancer Society provides financial, educational and emotions support to children with cancer, their families, and survivors. emotional, financial and educational

Sources:

Información general, no consejo médico

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