Do not let cancer hinder your child’s future! Know more about CHILDHOOD CANCER
There are certain types of cancers that occur majorly in children than in adults. These cancers are specific to children and require special treatment. Any of these cancers is called childhood cancer.
In any of the childhood cancer cases, parents along with children experience tremendous pressure, uncertainty, and fear. The child can experience extreme panic at diagnosis, loses time in the hospital during treatment. Therefore, special care and attention is required in such cases.
The study of childhood cancers, their diagnosis, and therapies is known as paediatric oncology. Doctors who specialise in this area, are trained to treat malignancies and tumors that affect people between ages 0 to 19 including infants, children, teenagers and adolescents. These specialists in paediatric oncology identify the child’s specific form of cancer and provide treatment while continuously assuring their well-being.
Cancer in children is uncommon but not unknown, and it is biologically distinct from tumors found in adults. Children are most frequently diagnosed with the following cancers:
Leukemia
The disease of the blood and bone marrow known as leukemia impairs and limits the body’s capacity to fight infections. It makes up around one-third of all cases of childhood cancer, making it the most prevalent cancer. Leukemia, sometimes known as blood cancer, can take many different forms, such as acute lymphoblastic, acute myeloid, and chronic myeloid.
Lymphoma
The term “Lymphoma” refers to the cancer of the lymphatic system, which includes the thymus gland, lymph nodes, spleen, and bone marrow. Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphomas are the two main kinds of Lymphoma that affect kids.
Hodgkin’s lymphoma can strike anyone at any age, but majority cases detected are in kids and teenagers. Children with a comparitively weak immune system are more susceptible, yet it is still unclear what causes this particular type of cancer. There is no proof that lymphoma and genetics are related. 90% of patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma are able to recover after timely diagnosis and effective treatment.
CNS Tumour
When healthy cells in the brain or spinal cord undergo mutations and experience rapid cell growth, the result is a mass or tumour known as a central nervous system tumour, or CNS tumour. Majority of brain tumours necessitate a multidisciplinary team approach, wherein a team composed of neurosurgeons (who specialise in operating on children with brain tumours), radiation oncologists, and paediatric oncologists plan the treatment keeping in mind a number of aspects.
Neuroblastoma
A rare kind of cancer called neuroblastoma causes the nerve tissues in the body to grow out of control. Children under the age of five are particularly affected, especially those under two years of age.
Bone Tumours
About 3–4% of all paediatric cancer cases are bone tumours. Osteosarcoma and Ewing’s sarcoma are the two of the most prevalent malignant paediatric bone tumours. Osteosarcoma and Ewing’s sarcoma treatment is equally as important for early diagnosis as it is for all cancer kinds.
Retinoblastoma
Retinoblastoma is an eye malignancy that typically affects children under the age of five. Early diagnosis is essential because 90% of children can be successfully treated. One of the key signs to look out for is the white reflection in the pupil of the eye, which can occur in either one or both eyes. Squinting, blurry vision, and chronic eye redness are other typical symptoms. Early detection of retinoblastoma allows medical professionals to properly treat the condition while also preserving vision. It is occasionally impossible to save an eye or vision at an advanced stage. Therefore early detection is the key for treatment of this cancer.
Hepatic Tumours
In children, liver tumours are the third most common cause of intra-abdominal tumours. Paediatric hepatic tumours can cause abdominal distension, an abdominal mass, or occasionally jaundice in children. Hepatoblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma are the two most common types of hepatic tumours.
Soft Tissue Sarcoma
The development of cancerous cells in the body’s soft tissues is known as paediatric soft tissue sarcoma.
Wilms Tumour
Wilms tumour, also known as nephroblastoma, is a typical juvenile cancer that develops in the kidneys. Nephroblastoma, affects almost nine out of ten kidney-related tumours and develops when cells in these essential organs grow out of control. In majority cases, one kidney is damaged. It is rare for both kidneys to be affected.
Treatment choices for paediatric patients rely on a number of variables, including age, cancer kind, disease stage, the child’s immunity, underlying causes including genetic inheritance, etc.
Most leukaemias – ALL and AML – and many types of lymphomas can be treated with chemotherapy alone. In some cases of cancer, such as brain tumours, surgery is advised, followed by radiation and chemotherapy. Neuroblastoma patients may need immunotherapy.
In both leukemias/lymphomas and many solid tumors, bone marrow or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation may be necessary. Thalassemia, aplastic anemia, and many immunodeficiency syndromes are only a few of the non-oncological benign hematological conditions for which BMT is a curative possibility.
Cancer in children can be cured with the right diagnosis and care. Don’t let your child’s physical or mental growth be affected by cancer treatment; instead, try to maintain as much of your child’s normalcy as you can.
Comprehensive Blood and Cancer Center (CBCC) is a USA based cancer care network with its centers in the USA and India. The ultimate aim of CBCC is to provide quality cancer care with advanced technology and growing innovation and CBCC Cancer Center. It has its presence in 9 cities of India. Agartala belongs to the same prestigious institution. It is one the most reputable medical Institution in Eastern India. It is reputed for providing accessible and affordable healthcare services to patients. A highly qualified and caring team of doctors provide exceptional cancer care through interdisciplinary treatment.
For expert consultation on any cancer, visit CBCC Cancer Center, Agartala. Know about our other centers from the contact section of the website.
