Written By: Satata Karmakar | Published : September 30, 2024 5:57 PM IST
Medically Verified By: Dr. Manojit Chakraborty Consultant, Paediatric Hematology, Oncology, Rainbow Children’s Hospital.
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Childhood Cancer: Back in the late 1980s, a cancer diagnosis was often accompanied by social stigma and a sense of hopelessness. However, in today's world, we understand that childhood cancer is not a single disease and that different types of cancer have varying chances of being cured. Childhood blood cancer has a cure rate upto 90%. Generally speaking, childhood cancers are more treatable than adult cancers.
In today's article, Dr. Manojit Chakraborty Consultant, Paediatric Hematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant, Rainbow Children's Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, Sarjapur Road, Marathahalli, Bengaluru, tells us every detail about childhood cancer and how a child can fight the deadly disease.
Yes, kids can get cancer. Although it's often seen as a disease affecting older adults, cancer can affect people of all ages, including children.
Certain genetic abnormalities can increase the risk, such as Down syndrome, Neurofibromatosis, and children who have had cancer and have previously received radiation or chemotherapy have a higher chance of recurrence. On the other hand, most children's malignancies result from haphazard gene changes that happen in growing cells. There are no known ways to stop these mutations because they occur on their own.
As per reports, every year, an estimated 400,000+ new cases of cancer affect children under the age of 20 worldwide. In India, nearly more than 50,000 new childhood cancer cases occur every year. And, globally, cancer stole 11.5 million years of healthy life away from children in 2017. This total could be lower, if all children received adequate care.
In a recent study, experts have also revealed that globally, a child is diagnosed with cancer every 80 seconds. In 2022, more than 275,000 children and adolescents (aged 0 19 years) were diagnosed with cancer worldwide and more than 105,000 children died from cancer. However, the actual numbers may be much higher, because in many countries childhood cancer is difficult to diagnose.
Yes, childhood cancer can often be cured, but it depends on the type of cancer, how advanced it is at diagnosis, and the child's overall health. With advances in treatment, the prognosis for many children with cancer has improved significantly. Today, the overall survival rate for children diagnosed with cancer in developed countries is over 80%, meaning many children go on to live healthy lives after treatment.
Treatments Leading to Cure
Here are some of the cancer treatment options available:
No, childhood cancer is not contagious. Cancer cannot be spread from one person to another like a virus or bacterial infection. It occurs when cells in the body undergo changes that cause them to grow uncontrollably, forming tumors or abnormal cells. Most childhood cancers are caused by random genetic mutations, not by exposure to an infectious agent. These mutations can happen for reasons that aren't fully understood, and in most cases, they are not inherited from parents. Some cancers, such as cervical cancer or liver cancer in adults, are associated with infections (like HPV or hepatitis), but these infections don't directly cause cancer in children. In summary, childhood cancer is not something that can be caught by being around someone who has it. It develops within a person's own body, and there's no risk of "spreading" cancer from one child to another.
Yes, children can tolerate chemotherapy, but their experiences with the treatment can vary depending on factors such as the type of cancer, the specific drugs used, the dosage, and the child's overall health. In general, children often respond better to chemotherapy than adults for several reasons, but chemotherapy can still come with significant side effects.
Here are some of the reasons that can help a child fight cancer better than an adult:
Children's bodies are often more resilient and can recover from treatment more quickly than adults. Their organs are generally healthier, and they may bounce back faster after each round of chemotherapy.
Unlike adults, children typically don't have chronic conditions such as heart disease or diabetes, which can make it harder to tolerate chemotherapy.
Certain types of childhood cancers, like acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or Wilms tumor, tend to respond very well to chemotherapy, which can lead to better outcomes with fewer long-term complications.
The increase in childhood cancer rates has garnered significant attention in recent years, prompting questions about the underlying causes. While researchers are still investigating this complex issue, several key factors may contribute to the observed rise in cases. The most important cause is because of Improved Detection and Diagnosis.
One of the most significant factors behind the apparent increase in childhood cancer is the advancement in medical technology and diagnostic techniques. Enhanced imaging and screening methods allow for earlier and more accurate identification of cancers that may have gone undiagnosed in the past. As awareness of childhood cancer grows, both parents and healthcare providers are more vigilant, leading to an uptick in diagnoses. Shifts in lifestyle and maternal health can also impact childhood cancer rates. Factors such as maternal obesity, smoking during pregnancy, and overall health may influence a child's risk. Additionally, changes in diet and physical activity levels in children could potentially affect their cancer risk, although the relationships are still being studied.
Receiving a cancer diagnosis is understandably devastating for the affected child and their family. Treatment should also aim at overcoming psychological, emotional, and social issues. Reassuring children about their illness and clearly explaining the treatment plan is important. Long hospital stays, dietary choices, activity restrictions, and social isolation should be properly explained to the kids.
Social support is encouraged to create moments of normalcy amid the challenges. Siblings of the affected child may experience a range of emotions, including fear, confusion, and jealousy. They may also feel neglected as parental attention is focused on the sick child. Maintaining a sense of normalcy for siblings is also important.
