
Childhood cancers are cancers that occur in children, typically under the age of 18. They can affect various tissues and organs, including the blood, brain, bones, and soft tissues. The most common types include leukemia, brain tumors, neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, and lymphoma.
Childhood cancers are relatively rare, accounting for about 2-3% of all cancers. In India, it is estimated that around 15,000 new cases of childhood cancers are diagnosed each year. Despite their rarity, early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for improving outcomes.
Common symptoms can include:
Diagnosis typically involves:
Biopsy: A sample of tissue may be taken from the tumor to confirm the diagnosis
Key blood tests may include:
Staging helps assess how far the cancer has spread. Different cancers have specific staging systems. Common factors considered include:
Management strategies vary based on the cancer type and stage:
Surgery is often the first line of treatment for solid tumors. Its goals include:
Radiotherapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. It can be used:
Chemotherapy involves using drugs to kill cancer cells or stop their growth. It is often administered in cycles, which allows the body to recover between treatments. Chemotherapy can be:
Immunotherapy boosts the body’s immune system to fight cancer. It’s increasingly used for certain types of childhood cancers, such as neuroblastoma and leukemia. Techniques include:
CAR T-cell therapy: Engineering the patient’s own T-cells to attack cancer cells
There are two main types:
Allogeneic transplant: Uses stem cells from a donor. This may be considered for more aggressive or relapsed cancers.
The duration typically involves 2-4 weeks in the hospital for the transplant procedure, followed by outpatient care for several months. Costs can range from ₹15 lakhs to ₹30 lakhs in India, depending on the hospital and whether it’s autologous or allogeneic
Total body radiotherapy (TBI) is part of the conditioning regimen before an allogeneic transplant. It helps destroy cancer cells and suppresses the immune system, allowing the new stem cells to engraft successfully
Survival rates vary by cancer type but have improved significantly over the years due to advancements in treatment. Overall, the 5-year survival rate for childhood cancers is now around 80%. For specific types like leukemia, survival can exceed 90% with appropriate treatment.
Rehabilitation focuses on physical, emotional, and social recovery. It may include:
Educational support to help children catch up on schoolwork missed during treatment
Regular follow-up appointments are crucial and typically occur every 3-6 months for the first few years, then annually. These visits may include physical exams, blood tests, and imaging studies to monitor for recurrence and manage any late effects of treatment
Follow-up investigations may include:
Regular assessments of growth and development, especially in younger patients
CyberKnife is a precise form of radiation therapy that can target tumors with minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue. It is particularly useful for small, localized tumors or for patients who cannot undergo traditional surgery.
Proton therapy is a type of radiation therapy that uses protons instead of X-rays. It allows for more precise targeting of tumors, minimizing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. This is especially beneficial for children, whose developing bodies are more sensitive to radiation
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