Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is making Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September by highlighting the increase in the number of children diagnosed with cancer. According to the IARC in 2020, almost 280,000 children and adolescents were diagnosed with cancer worldwide and almost 110,000 children died from cancer. However, the actual number may be much higher, because in many countries childhood cancer is hard to diagnose. The need to raise awareness and control cancer led the World Health Organization to launch the Global initiative for childhood cancer in September 2018, with support from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, IARC, and other global partners. The goal of this program is to achieve at least 60% survival for childhood cancer globally by 2030.

The most types of cancers in children are acute lymphocytic leukemia, brain and other central nervous system tumors, and neuroblastoma. Taken together, these cancers accounted for about half of the new cases each year.

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL): ALL is a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow. This type of cancer is described as “acute” because the disease progresses rapidly and creates immature blood cells, rather than mature ones. The word lymphocytic in ALL refers to the white blood cells called lymphocytes which the disease affects. Furthermore, ALL is the most common type of cancer in children. ALL can also occur in adults as well, however, through modern medical practices, it has been reduced. Symptoms of ALL may include:

  • Bleeding from the gums
  • Bone Pain
  • Fever
  • Recurring Infections
  • Recurring Nosebleeds
  • Pale Skin
  • Shortness of Breath
  • Fatigue
  • Formation of lumps around the neck, armpits, abdomen or groin

Neuroblastoma: Neuroblastoma is a type of cancer that develops from several immature cells found throughout the body. This type of cancer most commonly arises in and around the adrenal glands because they have similar origins to nerve cells and sit atop the kidneys. Some forms of neuroblastoma go away on their own while others may require multiple treatments. Children of age 5 or younger are the most affected by neuroblastoma, and it also can rarely occur in older children. Symptoms of Neuroblastoma can vary depending on the body part but include:

  • Abdominal Pain
  • Diarreha/Constipation
  • Wheezing
  • Chest Pain
  • Unequal pupil size
  • Lumps of tissue under the skin
  • Dark Circles around the eye
  • Fever
  • Bone pain
  • Unexplained Weight Loss

Pediatric brain Tumors: : Pediatric brain tumors are masses of growths of abnormal cells that occur in a child’s brain. There are different types of brain tumors- some are noncancerous (benign) and some are cancerous (malignant). Treatment and recovery depend on the tumor and its location within the brain, how much it has spread, the child’s age, and general health. Treatment for brain tumors in children is quite different from treatment for adult brain tumors. Thus, it is very important to enlist the expertise and experience of pediatric specialists in neurology and cancer. The different types of brain tumors are Choroid plexus carcinoma, Craniopharyngioma, Embryonal tumors, Ependymoma, Glioma, Medulloblastoma, and Pineoblastoma. Symptoms include but are not limited to:
  • Headaches
  • Feeling increased pressure in the head
  • Nausea
  • Vision Problems
  • Seizures
  • Slurred Speech
  • Trouble swallowing
  • Loss of appetite
  • Difficulty with balance
  • Trouble Walking
  • Confusion
  • Memory problems
  • Personality of behavior changes
  • Hearing problems
  • Weakness/Loss of sensation in arm or leg
  • Drooping on one side of the face

Though Cancer treatments can save lives, they can still cause health issues later in life. So, cancer survivors must take care of their health by getting regular checkups and giving their doctor details about their cancer history.

Sources:

stjude.org, September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

iarc.who.int, Childhood Cancer

mayoclinic.org, Consumer Health: Childhood Cancer

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