Cancer is Not Just an Adult Disease
by James Gurney, PhD and Joseph Neglia, MD, MPH
Although childhood cancers are rare, they are still the leading cause of death by disease in children.
Parents try to protect their children. If a child becomes sick, a parent may feel helpless and sympathetic, but most children recover quickly and are back to their usual activities in a few days. When a child develops a serious illness however, the results can be devastating. This is especially true when a child is diagnosed with cancer. Along with feelings of disbelief and anguish, parents often fear that something they did or did not do led to the child's disease. The exact cause of most childhood cancers, however, is a mystery.
Although childhood cancers are rare, they are still the leading cause of death by disease in children aged 14 and younger. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 9,100 children will be diagnosed with cancer this year.
Childhood cancers are mostly those of the white blood cells (leukemia), brain, bone, and the lymphatic system (lymphoma). Cancerous tumors also can develop in the muscles, kidneys, and nervous system. Like cancers that occur in adults, each type of childhood cancer behaves differently, but all develop because of an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. However, children's cancers do not always act like, get treated like, or respond like adult cancers.
Unfortunately, the signs and symptoms of cancer in children can mimic many common childhood illnesses. Sometimes a tumor is found in the course of a regular checkup, often when the pediatrician feels the abdomen (a common location for certain tumors), or checks for swelling in the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes under the arms, in the groin and neck (common signs of leukemia and lymphoma). Most of the time, though, it is the parents who call the doctor's attention to any unusual symptoms that persist over a period of time. These can include an unusual mass or swelling, unexplained paleness and loss of energy, a tendency to bruise easily, pain or limping, unexplained fever, or frequent headaches accompanied by vomiting.
When a child is diagnosed with cancer, a pediatric oncologist (a pediatrician who specializes in treating cancer) will plan the treatment to fit an individual patient's needs. The treatment depends not only on the type of cancer, but also on certain features of the cancer cells (the "biology" of the tumor) and the extent of the disease. A treatment plan must also consider the child's age, symptoms, and general health. Childhood cancer treatments can include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or, in some instances, a bone marrow transplant.
As recently as the 1950s, a diagnosis of cancer was a virtual death sentence for a child. Today, eight out of 10 children diagnosed with cancer can be successfully treated. A major reason for this success is the frequent participation of families in clinical trials. A clinical trial may take many forms, but often will compare two or more treatment plans to determine if one may be better than another. Treatments are only tested in clinical trials after they have been shown to be effective in laboratory testing. About two-thirds of children with cancer are treated in clinical trials. Extensively researching new therapies through clinical trials has led to the development of new and better therapies as well as methods to help children deal with the side effects of cancer treatment.
Article reprinted with permission from the University of Minnesota Cancer Center
