Childhood Cancer Awareness 15 February 2017
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| BOOKS ON CHILDHOOD CANCER |
Children. Childhood cancers can occur suddenly, without early symptoms, and have a high rate of cure.
The most common children's cancer is leukemia.
Symptoms and treatment depend on the cancer type and how advanced it is.
Treatment may include surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy.
DISTRIBUTION OF CHILDHOOD CANCER BY AGE
DEFINITION
Cancer is a group of diseases which is caused by
abnormal growth of body cells
Childhood cancers are mostly those of the white blood cells (leukemia),
brain, bone, and the lymphatic system (lymphoma).
DEFINITION
Cancer is a group of diseases which is caused by abnormal growth of body cells
Zimbabwe and childhood cancer
Each type of childhood cancer behaves differently, but all develop because of an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells.According to the Zimbabwe National Cancer Registry 151 Childhood cancer cases (0-14 years) were recorded in 2006. Most of them, 89, were boys and 62 were girls.
According to a report by Kidzcan, a leading organization working on childhood cancers in Zimbabwe, they assisted 260 children with cancers between 2009 and 2011. Out of the 260 children, 13% presented with Wilms Tumor, 10% Kaposi Sarcoma, 9% Retinoblastoma 7%, Brain Tumour and 7% had Lymphomas.
The causes of childhood cancers are largely unknown. A few conditions, such as Down syndrome, other specific chromosomal and genetic abnormalities, and ionizing radiation exposures, explain a small percentage of cases.
According to the National Cancer Institute (2012), a number of studies are examining suspected or possible risk factors for childhood cancers, including early-life exposures to infectious agents; parental, fetal, or childhood exposures to environmental toxins such as pesticides, solvents, or other household chemicals; parental occupational exposures to radiation or chemicals; parental medical conditions during pregnancy or before conception; maternal diet during pregnancy; early postnatal feeding patterns and diet; and maternal reproductive history. Researchers are also studying the risks associated with maternal exposures to oral contraceptives, fertility drugs, and other medications; familial and genetic susceptibility; and risk associated with exposure to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
A review of childhood cancer in Zimbabwe
Childhood Cancers in Zimbabwe: A 10 year review of the Zimbabwe National Cancer Registry data by Chitsike I, Ndlovu N, Kuona P, Nyakabau AM, Kadzatsa W, Ticklay I, Chimhini G, Chokonunga E.
Childhood Cancer constituted 3.8% of all malignancies recorded at the cancer registry during the study period. The common cancers were: Wilm's Tumour 286 (16.2%), Kaposi Sarcoma 277 (15.7%), Retinoblastoma 231 (13.1%), Non- Hodgkins lymphoma 182 (10.3%), leukemia 158 (8.9%), brain and nervous tissue 107 (6.1%), connective tissue 105 (5.9%), bone 97 (5.5%), Hodgkins lymphoma 57 (3.2%), Non-melanoma skin 33 (1.9%). All the other remaining cancers were 233 (13.2%). Burkits lymphoma constituted only 2% of all cancers. The noted pattern of cancers in this study were compared to patterns from other countries and similarities and differences are discussed.
CONCLUSION:This study showed high incidence rates of Nephroblastoma, Retinoblastoma and Kaposi sarcoma. In contrast to high income countries leukemia and brain tumours are more prevalent in older age group. Compared to other countries in Africa, Burkits lymphoma was rare. Further research is required to identify factors that influence relative frequencies in childhood cancers in Zimbabwe. Findings from this study provide baseline data for future studies.
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| WILMS TUMOR |
Childhood Cancers
Types of Cancer in Children
. The major types of cancers in children ages 0 to 14 years are acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), brain and other central nervous system (CNS) tumors, and neuroblastomaTreating Childhood Cancer
Children's cancers are not always treated like adult cancers It's important to know that this expertise exists and that there are effective treatments for many childhood cancers.Types of Treatment
There are many types of cancer treatment. The types of treatment that a child with cancer receives will depend on the type of cancer and how advanced it is.Common treatments include: surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and stem cell transplant.
Treatment Effects
Children
face unique issues during their treatment for cancer, after the completion of
treatment, and as survivors of cancer. For example, they may receive more
intense treatments, cancer and its treatments have different effects on growing
bodies than adult bodies, and they may respond differently to drugs that
control symptoms in adults. For more information,
strategies Survivorship
It’s essential for childhood cancer survivors to receive follow-up care to monitor their health after completing treatment. Survivors of any kind of cancer can develop health problems months or years after cancer treatment, known as late effects, but late effects are of particular concern for childhood cancer survivors because treatment of children can lead to profound, lasting physical and emotional effects. Late effects vary with the type of cancer, the child’s age, the type of treatment, and other factors. Information on types of late effects and ways to manage these can be found on our Survivorship Care for Children page..
Cancer Causes
The causes of most childhood cancers are not known. About 5 percent of all cancers in children are caused by an inherited mutation (a genetic mutation that can be passed from parents to their children).Most cancers in children, like those in adults, are thought to develop as a result of mutations in genes that lead to uncontrolled cell growth and eventually cancer. In adults, these gene mutations reflect the cumulative effects of aging and long-term exposure to cancer-causing substances. However, identifying potential environmental causes of childhood cancer has been difficult, partly because cancer in children is rare and partly because it is difficult to determine what children might have been exposed to early in their development.
references
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3.
https://www.cancer.gov/types/childhood-cancers4. Clinical oncology: basic principles and practice by A J Neal & P J Hoskin
5. Oncology edited by TV Ajithkumar & H M Hatcher
6. Childhood Leukemias edited by Pui
7. Advances in pediatrics volume 59, 2012 p. 247-258
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