is the leading cause of death from disease in children under 15.
Childhood cancer is difficult to recognize.
Be alert for unusual signs or symptoms:
* Unusual mass or swelling
* Unexplained paleness/loss of energy
* Sudden tendency to bruise
* Persistent localized pain or limping
* Prolonged, unexplained fever or illness
* Frequent headaches, often with vomiting
* Sudden eye or vision changes
* Excessive, rapid weight loss
Leukemia is cancer of the blood and develops in the bone marrow, the soft, spongy center of the long bones that produce the major blood cells. Leukemia is the most common form of childhood cancer, affecting about 3000 children each year. Leukemia can occur at any age but most commonly between ages 2 and 6. Most leukemia is an acquired genetic gene mutation. The three main types of leukemia are acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), and chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Symptoms of leukemia may include: anemia; bleeding and/or bruising; recurrent infections; bone and joint pain; abdominal distress; swollen lymph nodes; difficulty brething (dyspnea).
Wilm's Tumor, also called nephroblastoma, is a tumor originating in the cells of the kidney. It is the most common type of kidney cancer in children, and accounts for approximately 6 percent of all childhood cancers, affecting about 500 children per year. Wilm's can present at any age, from infancy to 15, but is most commonly discovered around age 3. The mnost common symptoms of Wilm's tumor are: a non-tener mass or lump felt or seen on the abdomen; abdominal swelling; veins that appear distended or large across the abdomen; blood in the urine; abdominal pain; decreased appetite, weakness, tiredness; fever; high blood pressure.
Hepatoblastoma is a very rare cancerous tumor of the liver. Hepatoblastoma usually presents from infancy to 5 years of age, but usually before age 18 months. This rare cancer accounts for about 1 percent of all childhood cancers. Less than one in a million children are diagnosed with hepatoblastoma each year. This children's cancer is associated with a number of gentic conditions, including Beckwith-Wiedermann syndrome, hemihypertrophy, and familial adenomous polyposis (FAP). It is important to make your pediatrician aware if any of these conditions runs in your family. If so, the doctor can check the infant's AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) level (a simple blooc test) or have regular ultrasounds (very noninvasive) performed on the child.
Hepatoblastoma is usually asymptomatic, but some signs include: swollen abdoman, weight loss, decreased appetite, abdominal pain, vomiting, jaundice, fever, itcky skin, anemia, back pain. Of course, many of these signs are difficult to determine on an infant.
Luke Neuhedel had hepatoblastoma, diagnosed at nine months. He refused his bottle and food. A trip to the pediatrician after he had not eaten for one morning showed a hardness in his abdomen. An ultrasound and CT scan showed a tumor the size of a grapefruit on his liver and approximately 30 metatases scattered throughout his lungs. No previous checkups presented any sign that Luke was uncomfortable or in pain. Luke's development to this point was completely normal. Because of the size of the liver tumor and number of metatases Luke's case was considered hopeless. Also, at the time Luke was diagnosed, it was not common knowledge that hepatoblastoma was related to the gentic condition of FAP. FAP runs in Luke's family, and because of him, Luke's cousins are monitored regularly with ultrasound to provide early diagnosis.
If you suspect your child is ill follow your gut feeling.
You are your child's best advocate.
If you disagree with your peditrician, seek a second opinion.
You know your child best...
your child comes first.
Information on children's cancer can also be found on the following websites:
www.nci.nih.gov/cancerinfo
www.chkd.com/oncology
www.chw.org
www.intl-theoncologist.alphamedpress.org
Retinoblastoma is a rare cancer of the retina (found at the back of the eye). About 300 children are diagnosed with this cancer each year, accounting for 3 percent of children's cancer. It occurs usually in children under age 5, mainly from infancy to age 2. Retinoblastoma can occur in one or both eyes. Symptoms may include: leukocoria (a white light reflew that occurs at certain angles when light is shown into the pupil); strabismus, or "wandering eye"/"crossed-eyes", pain or redness around the eyes; poor vision or change in child's vision.
These are the facts about children's cancer, as published by websites such as Childhood Cancer Awareness, St. Jude's, Candlelighters, National Childrens Cancer Society, Childhood Cancer Lifeline, and more.
EVERY DAY 46 children are diagnosed with cancer, i.e., persons under age 20.
One in every four elementary schools has a student with cancer. The average high school has 2.
EVERY DAY 15 children die of cancer.
By the year 2010 it is projected that 1 in every 250 adults will be a survivor of pediatric cancer.
Children's Cancer is the #1 disease killer of children in the United States. --- Cancer strikes more children than AIDS, diabetes, congneital anomalies and cystic fibrosis COMBINED.
The incidence of cancer in children is 20 times greater than the incidence of AIDS in children.
Yet, funding for pediatric AIDS is FOUR times greater than funding for pediatric cancer.
The incidence of an American child developing leukemia, lyphoma, brain tumors, neuroblastoma, Wilm's tumor or a sarcoma is greater than that child developing HIV/AIDS.
Cases of children's cancer are incresing at a rate of 1% every year, especially cancer in young adults, but funding does not increase. In fact, the increase of cancer in young adults and teens is increasing at a greater rate than in any other age group.
The National Cancer Institute's (NCI) federal budget for 2003 was $4.6 billion. Of that all 12 major forms of pediatric cancer COMBINED received less than 3%. That does not include rare forms of cancer, such as hepatoblastoma. YET cancer kills more children in America than any other disease.
Pediatric cancers are the 6th most common cancer in the US (note that feederal funding does not reflect this).
Many advances in adult cancers and other adult diseases, such as Parkinson's, are due to research on children's cancer.
While adults are affected mostly by cancers of the breast, lung, prostrate, bowels and bladder, children are most affected by acute leukemias, tumors of the brain and nervous system, the lymphatic system, kidneys, bones, and muscles. The cause of many adult cancers is related to lifestyle choices; the cause of children's cancers remains unknown.
Sadly, parents of children with a chronic illness or who have suffered the death of a child have a divorce rate of 80%.
Less than 40% of Americans even know that children even get cancer!
Here is basic information on different children's cancers and treatments. This information is garnered from research facilities in the U.S., such as the COG, CureSearch, St. Jude's, materials available to parents and grandparents of children with cancer from Candlelighters, and more. It is here to help you get started, to help you in your discussions with your child's oncologist. This information is updated several times a year.
