Even though most of us have an idea of what cancer is, we don’t always understand how it works – from diagnosis and prognosis to treatment and remission. The unknown is scary but arming ourselves with knowledge can put us – and our children – at ease.
Here’s what you need to know about pediatric cancer and how it is treated!
What is Cancer?
In very basic terms, cancer is a medical condition in which abnormal cells grow out of control and damage or destroy healthy cell tissue.
What Causes Cancer?
When children are diagnosed with cancer, the big question is “why?”
For the most part, it is difficult to pinpoint one cause or source with certainty. Let us say this: your child’s cancer is not your fault.
Cancer is caused by a mutation in the DNA. Sometimes this comes from increased genealogical risks. A parent cannot know or control cancer outcomes for their child. As adults, we know that certain habits and lifestyles can increase the risk of cancer – smoking, sun exposure, diet, radiation, and other illnesses can contribute. Because children are so young, they’re unlikely to have been exposed to significant carcinogens in their short life.
The “why” may never be answered. But it is not your fault.
What are the Most Common Forms of Pediatric Cancer?
For children between birth and age 14, the most common forms of cancer are as follows:
- Leukemias
- Brain & central nervous system tumors
- Lymphomas
- Neuroblastomas
- Kidney tumors
- Malignant bone tumors
How Pediatric Cancer is Treated
The types of treatment a child receives largely depend on the stage and aggression of cancer, as well as the child’s health and family care preferences. Overall, the best approach to cancer treatment is a holistic one – one that prioritizes the child’s mental, physical, and emotional well-being alongside the mission to eradicate cancer.
Here are the most common treatment options:
- Surgery
Surgery is often the first line of defense. If tumors can be safely and completely removed, it is wise to do so as soon as possible. After the removal of a cancerous mass and surrounding tissue, there may be leftover cancer cells in the body that must be treated in other ways. Surgery may become impossible if cancer metastasizes (spreads to other parts of the body). Surgery possibilities depend on the child’s age, size and location of the tumor, type of tumor, and whether it has spread. Regardless, surgeries are often followed up by other types of treatments to ensure total cancer removal.
- Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is most likely the first treatment you think of when you consider cancer. This is simply the use of drugs to target and destroy cancer cells, ultimately preventing further growth as well as eliminating existing cancer cells. Chemotherapy is often administered in cycles over a set period of time – usually ranging from months to years of treatment.
- Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is a “fight fire with fire” approach to cancer treatment. Radiation therapy is less utilized in children, as the concentration of x-rays, protons, or other cancer-destroying particles can impact healthy tissues. The most common type of radiation therapy is administered outside of the body by a carefully calibrated machine.
- Immunotherapy
Like chemotherapy, immunotherapy utilizes medications to treat cancer. The goal is to utilize vaccines, antibodies, or other man or body-made medications and materials to equip the body’s natural immune system to fight cancer.
- Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Transplant
For the treatment of some cancers, bone marrow or stem cell transplant may be appropriate. These transplants replace cancer-filled cells with supercharged special cells that develop into healthy tissue. These transplants are often followed by high doses of chemo or radiation therapies targeting bone marrow, blood, and other parts of the body.
The Challenge of Treatment
Even though we’re all human, the treatment of cancer in children is very different from treating cancer in adults. They require a specialized approach. Unfortunately, childhood cancer research lags behind the same research for adults.
With that said, outcomes for pediatric cancer patients have only improved with time, research, and increased funding. Right now, funding is one of the greatest obstacles to treating childhood cancer effectively.
The more we talk about pediatric cancer, support research, and come around families and children through their cancer journey, the better we can kick cancer!