Cancer is a category of associated diseases. In all forms of cancer, certain body cells tend to divide without stopping and spread to neighboring tissues. Usually, our body creates new cells when we need them and replaces them with the old cells that die. Sometimes this phase may go wrong. Our body produces new cells when we don’t need them, and old cells don’t die. The extra cells will make up a tumor. Tumors may be benign or malignant.
Some Facts About Childhood Cancer:
- In children of 1 to 14 years, cancer is the second leading cause of death.
- Researchers predict that about 1,190 children under age 15 will die from cancer in 2020.
- Forty-three children are diagnosed with cancer every day.
- The death rate of cancer in children in 12%
- The average age of children diagnosed is six.
- Right now, 84% of children with cancer survive for five years or more.
- 60 % of children who survive cancer have late consequences, such as miscarriage, heart disease, and second cancer.
What Causes Childhood Cancer?
To understand what causes cancer in children, it’s essential to know how cancer works. All cancers arise when the DNA in the cells mutates or changes. The body typically kills this new cell before it can cause any damage.
However, in the case of cancer, the mutated cell keeps growing and splitting into more sections. Cancer cells grow and divide much faster than healthy cells.they can spread throughout the body, sometimes causing tumors.
Unlike cancer in adults, the vast majority of childhood cancers do not have a known cause. Many studies have sought to identify the causes of childhood cancer, but environmental or lifestyle factors cause very few cancers in children.
Some Probable Cause Of Childhood Cancer Is Given Below:
- Medical conditions: Certain factors can raise the risk of a child developing different types of cancer. For example, children with Down’s syndrome are 10 to 20 times more likely to develop leukemia than other children.
- Genetics: Some infants are born with a mutation in the retinoblastoma gene, also known as the RB1 gene. This may be because they have inherited the gene from one of their ancestors, or because this gene has altered in the very early stages of its production in the womb. About 4 out of 10 children diagnosed (40 percent) have this inheritable form of retinoblastoma, affecting both eyes.
- Exposure to infections: Epstein Bar (EBV) is a common infection in young children. It normally doesn’t trigger any symptoms. But in teenagers and young adults, it causes glandular fever. Most people get infected with EBV as an infant and remain infected for life without any symptoms. Because of how widespread it is, there’s nothing you can do to keep you or your child from getting into contact with EBV right now.
- Exposure to radiation: Radon gas is a radioactive natural gas that is a form of ionizing radiation. Radon gas is present in the air at a low level outdoors, but may also build up to high concentrations indoors. Since it’s natural gas, it’s not easy for us to regulate our exposure to it. Overall, tests so far have only indicated that there could be a poor correlation between indoor radon gas levels and the possibility of childhood leukemia.
The Most Common Childhood Cancers
- Leukemia: Leukemias, which are bone marrow and blood tumors, are the most common pediatric tumors. These leukemias can cause bone and joint pain, fatigue, exhaustion, pale skin, bleeding or swelling, fever, weight loss, and other symptoms.
- Brain and spinal cord tumors: Brain and spinal cord tumors are the second most prevalent cancer in children, accounting for around 26% of pediatric cancers. Most brain tumors in children begin in the lower parts of the brain, such as the cerebellum or the brain stem. They can induce headaches, nausea, vomiting, blurred or double vision, dizziness, epilepsy, walking or managing issues, and other symptoms.
- Neuroblastoma: Neuroblastoma begins in the early stages of nerve cells present in the developing embryo or fetus. Around 6% of pediatric tumors are neuroblastomas. Usually, babies and young children suffer from this type of cancer.
- Bone cancer: Two main types of primary bone cancers occur in children,
- Osteosarcoma is most frequent in teenagers and typically occurs in areas where the bone is proliferating.
- Ewing sarcoma is a less severe form of bone cancer. It is most often seen in young teenagers. The most common starting points are the pelvic (hip) bones, the chest wall (such as the ribs or shoulder blades), or the leg’s center’s bones.
Treatment Of Childhood Cancer
Healthcare professionals use these methods to treat childhood cancers:
- Surgery: Surgery removes the tumor, either cancerous or non-cancer and any underlying healthy tissue after surgery. Many children with cancer may need surgery at any stage in their treatment.
- Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is the use of medications to kill cancer cells, usually by preventing cancer cells from developing, separating, and producing more cells. The side effects of chemotherapy depend on the person and the treatment and the dosage used. They may include fatigue, risk of illness, nausea and vomiting, loss of hair, lack of appetite, and diarrhea.
- Radiation therapy: Radiation treatment includes applying high-energy x-rays or other particles, such as electrons, to destroy cancer cells. The most popular radiation therapy method is called external beam radiation, which is radiation from a source outside the body.
Side effects of radiation therapy include fatigue, minor skin reactions, stomach distress, and loose bowel movements. Many side effects will go away shortly after the procedure is over.
- Bone marrow transplantation/stem cell transplantation: Bone marrow transplantation is a surgical process in which the cancer-containing bone marrow is replaced with highly specialized cells.
What Should Parents Do? How Can They Help?
The key aim of treating children with cancer is to kill them. While therapy can induce side effects, certain medications and treatments can make children feel relaxed.
Involve children with their cancer treatment wherever possible. Explain the truth about their illness. For a younger child — toddlers and those lower than four years of age — telling them they are “sick” and require “medicine” to get well may be enough of an excuse. The goal for all age groups is to prevent fear and misunderstanding.
Many children may feel guilt as if cancer is something their fault. Psychologists, social psychologists, and other cancer care team members will be of tremendous support in reassuring them and helping them deal with their emotions.
Getting a child treated for cancer will make any family feel stressed. But you’re not alone, though. Speak to someone on a treatment team or a hospital social worker to find help. There are several services available to support you and your kids.
