Types of Cancer in Children and How to Recognize Them

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Wednesday, November 8, 2023, 5:30 p.m

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Cancer is a devastating disease, a difficult diagnosis to accept, which can affect people of all ages, including children. Although pediatric cancer is rare compared to adult cancers, it is important to be informed about it and understand that there are several types of the disease that can affect little ones. In this article, you can discover which types of cancer are more common in children.

Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects blood cells and their precursors in the bone marrow. The disease develops when white blood cells, the cells that are supposed to fight infection, multiply uncontrollably and abnormally. Leukemia is the most common type of cancer in children, accounting for approximately 30% of all pediatric cancers.

There are two main types of leukemia at Children:

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most common type and affects lymphocytes. It can appear at any age, but it is diagnosed most frequently in children aged 2 – 5 years. The survival rate of this form of cancer is high, with children responding well to treatment; Acute myeloid leukemia affects myelocytes, another type of cell belonging to the white line. Acute myeloid leukemia is rarer in children but, like lymphoblastic leukemia, it can affect any age. Treatment is more difficult, more intense and longer lasting, but healing occurs in a high percentage of patients.

Brain tumors in children can occur as primary brain cancers or as metastatic tumors that have spread to the brain from other parts of the body. Symptoms vary depending on the location of the tumor and generally include severe headaches, vomiting, visual disturbances, and behavioral changes.

Neuroblastoma affects nerve cells in different structures of the body. This type of cancer can appear from birth to adolescence. Symptoms are variable, depending on the organs affected, some of the most common being unexplained weight loss, fever of unknown origin, abdominal pain, and abdominal distension.

Retinoblastoma is a cancer located in the retina and adjacent structures, diagnosed most often in children younger than 5 years. Retinoblastoma is often diagnosed as a result of observing changes in the eyeballs, noted in flash photographs.

With early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, most children with retinoblastoma recover completely and retain their sight.

Bone tumors can affect children, pre-adolescents and adolescents and can be benign or malignant. Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant form of bone tumors, identified mainly in long bones, such as the femur or tibia. Osteosarcoma produces local changes accompanied by severe bone pain.

Osteosarcoma treatment involves surgery and chemotherapy. The prognosis depends on many individual factors, including the stage of the disease and the response to treatment.

Wilms tumor is also known as nephroblastoma. This type of cancer develops in the kidneys and is more commonly diagnosed in children younger than 5 years old. The most common symptoms are abdominal distension, abdominal pain and blood in the urine. Surgery and chemotherapy are generally the main methods of treatment, and most children respond well to these.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of cancer of the lymphatic system that can also be identified in children. It generally affects the lymph nodes, spleen and other lymphoid organs. The first symptoms noticed by parents are swelling of the regional lymph nodes, fever and unexplained weight loss. Treatment and its effectiveness depend on the type and stage of the lymphoma and generally involve chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Early diagnosis and prompt institution of appropriate treatment are essential in the management of any type of cancer in children. Parents should be alert to the appearance of any unexplained, unusual or persistent symptoms and seek specialist medical advice in case of any suspicion. Cancer treatment is more effective in children than in adults, so many of these little ones have a good chance of beating the disease and recovering.

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2023-11-08 15:36:46
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