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Information about children's cancer

WHAT IS CANCER ?
Cancer is a group of diseases that are characterised by abnormal growth in the cells. Our cells are the basic unit of our bodies. Cancer types vary depending on the affected organ.

Normally, body cells grow, divide and die in an ordered manner. This serves as a function to keep our bodies healthy and in continuos restoration. Every human being has the necessary information to carry along this process of cellular reproduction.

The information contained in these cells can be altered by an error during their replication or caused by carcinogen agents (chemicals, radiations, virus) or even in the least of cases, it can be inherited. When abnormal cells are produced, our deference system eliminates or repairs them; however, there are cels that by different alterations in their information are able to escape the defence mechanism and replicate themselves forming a cancer or a tumour.

Tumours can be benign or malignant:
Benign tumours are not considered cancer. These are often extirpated and in most cases do not return. Benign tumour cells do no disseminate to other body parts and are rarely a mortal issue.

Malignant tumours are cancer. The cells on these tumours are abnormal and divide uncontrollably and without order. They can invade and damage tissues and nearby organs. Cancer cells can detach from the tumour and enter the blood stream producing new tumours in different organs. Cancer that reached dissemination is known as Metastatic Cancer.

Most types of cancer are named depending on the organ or the cellular type of which they originated, the following being the most frequent during types during childhood: Leukaemia, CNS (Central Nervous System) tumours and Lymphomas.

DRA NATALIA ELIZABETH PADILLA DURON
ONCO-HAEMATOLOGY PAEDIATRICIAN



HOW CAN I SUSPECT THAT MY CHILD HAS CANCER?

Cancer's signs and symptoms in infancy might not be specific at the begining, they can even simulate the daily pediatric consultation deseases. However, when a medical profile extends more than expected, new symptoms come out or there is a deterioration in the health of the child, we should think that our child has a serious illness and we would need to go to a hospital and perform all the necessary tests.

The clinical presentation could vary depending of the type and location of the cancer, some of the alarming symptoms are:

  • FEVER: Duration of more than 14 days, without an identified cause.
  • VOMITING: Duration of more than 7 days without an identified cause or associated to a headache that wakens the child up at night.
  • PERSISTING COUGH: Duration of more than 15 days without an identified cause.
  • BONE OR MUSCLE PAIN: Prolonged pain for more than 2 weeks or an increment of soft body parts that are not associated with a trauma.
  • HEADACHE: Wakens the child up at night, has a progresive intensity, character change,and/or neurological signs.
  • GANGLIONIC GROWTH: They should be evaluated if there is not any response to antibiotic treatment
  • TUMOR: Incidental finding of an asymptotic mass in soft body parts or abdomen.
  • HEMATURIA: (Blood presence in the urine) initially discard an infectious process, if it presists a renal tumor neads to be discarded.
  • CONSTIPATION: Persistant constipation, that does not respond to the conventional measures in a month.
  • WEIGHT LOSS: Without an apparent cause.

SINTOMAS DE CANCER


CANCER DURING INFANCY

Paediatric Cancer has a great social, psychological, emotional and physical impact in children, their families and society. Children's cancer is curable; the actual recovery rate exceeds 70% of diagnosed patients.

The main elements to better the survival of these kids are in the proper diagnosis, access to specialised treatment and lowering of the symptoms on the long run.

10 million new cases of Cancer are registered annually in the whole world and more than 6 million deaths caused by this disease. Research done by the World Health Organisation show that the incidence of cancer in children below 15 years old has gone up more than 200% in development countries.

In Mexico, this represents the second cause of death in a group from 5 to 14 years old, after accidents. It is estimated that each year, 15 cases of child cancer are diagnosed for each 100.000 children that have less than 15 years old. Approximately, Half of these originate in minors younger than 4 years old. In our country, approximately 15% of children with cancer are not receiving adequate treatment and more than 35% abandon the treatment due to delays in diagnosis or secondary effects to its high cost.

Thanks to the joint efforts of the government and support foundations, we have implemented strategies to better the problematic that children's cancer can cause; nevertheless, we still have a lot of work to do, primarily by continuing to deliver information to our society, reinstate with state of the art technology the services in destined hospitals, this to give quality attention and provide kids , day by day, the opportunity to carry along with their dreams.
Natalia Padilla Duron MD.
Paediatric Haematologist.
General de Occidente Hospital.



RECREATION AND CHILDREN'S CANCER

Diverse investigations show that by applying recreational programs to to children and adolescents that suffer from severe conditions modifies a lot of the negative emotion that this group of children manages as a consequence of their disease and through collateral symptoms of the treatment.

Living the recreational part of the child allows them to comfort and accept their disease with courage, positivism and trust. It plants emotions such as joy, hope, acceptation, tranquility; this offers stability, continuity and effort in the course of their treatment despite the strong medications they receive.
Carmen Lucia Garcia Iñiguez
General de Occidente Hospital
Zapopan, Jalisco