Childhood Cancer; Know the Warnings

Cancer in children accounts for just one percent of the total number of cancer cases. Although rare, they cause much distress in the young parents and immediate family members, for obvious reasons. Unlike adult cancers, the onset can be quite rapid and dramatic. The most common cancer, leukemia or blood cancer is usually detected when a child is evaluated for fever. Other solid tumors in the kidney or liver may be felt by the parents while the child is bathing.  

The earliest signs and symptoms of pediatric cancer include:   

  • Fatigue and nausea  
  • Nose and gum bleeding  
  • Aching bones, joints, easy bruising, and fractures  
  • Stomach ache and poor appetite  
  • Unexplained weight loss 
  • Constant and persistent infections  
  • Frequent headaches with/without frequent vomiting  
  • Unexplained persistence or recurrence of fever 
  • Changes in vision, bulging of the eyeball  
  • Neurological problems like loss of balance  
  • Night sweats  
  • Formation of lumps in the stomach, arms, legs, pelvis 

The different types of cancer in children are:  

  • Leukemia (the most common form of childhood cancer) 
  • Brain tumor 
  • Bone cancer  
  • Lymphoma  
  • Wilms tumor  
  • Neuroblastoma 

Triggers 

Changes in the genetic composition of the cell leading to uncontrolled growth may happen even before birth, as in the case of liver tumors or kidney tumors. There is also a genetic predisposition for development of leukemia and brain tumors. However, majority of pediatric cancers are sporadic or occur randomly without any specific reason. Lifestyle or infections don’t play an important role here. 

Post Diagnosis 

After suspecting cancer, the child has to go through specific diagnostic investigations.  This may be a simple blood smear/bone marrow examination for leukemia. For cancers in solid organs, scans to know the extent of disease and biopsy of the affected organ have to be done.  

Success Rates 

Cure rates in pediatric cancers are quite high compared to adult cancer. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are the main modalities of treatment. Children usually go through the rigors of cancer treatment in a better way compared to adults. The current focus is to tailor the various modalities described above to reduce long term side effects. Protocol based cancer treatments and clinical trials are available for almost all pediatric cancers. Long term follow up clinics ensure that the cancer survivor is integrated into mainstream devoid of any physical or mental trauma. 

(Credit: Dr. Arun Warrier, visiting consultant oncologist at Aster Hospital, Mankhool)