Childhood Cancer

Childhood cancer is cancer in a child. About 80% of childhood cancer cases in high-income countries are being able to treat with modern treatments and good medical care. Yet, only 10% of children with cancer live in high-income countries where proper treatment and care are available. Children with cancer make up only about 1% of all cancer cases diagnosed globally each year. The majority of children with cancer are in low- and middle-income countries, where it is responsible for 94% of deaths among those under 15 years old. Because new cancer treatments are not easily available in these countries. For this reason, in low and mid-income countries, childhood cancer is often ignored in control planning, contributing to the burden of missed opportunities for its diagnoses and management.

Despite having better care, childhood cancer survivors are still at risk of recurrence and primary cancers. They also face challenges in education, income, and social support compared to the general population and their siblings.

In the United States, an arbitrarily adopted standard of the ages used is 0–14 years inclusive, up to age 14 years 11.9 months. However, the definition of childhood cancer sometimes includes adolescents between 15 and 19 years old. Pediatric oncology is the branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer in children.

Signs and symptoms

Leukemia

This is the most common type of cancer during childhood, and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is most common in children. ALL usually develops in children between the ages of 1 and 10 (it could occur at any age). This type of cancer is more prevalent in males and white people.

Signs & Symptoms:

Frequent delayed diagnosis (early symptoms are nonspecific)

* Generalized malaise
* Loss of appetite
* Low-grade fever
* Pallor
* Petechiae  
* Ecchymoses
* Bone pain
* Significant, unintended, and sudden weight loss

Physical examination:

* Significant lymphadenopathy
* Hepatosplenomegaly should raise suspicion for leukemia.

Important: It is recommended that a complete blood count is obtained (CBC) if any suspicious findings arise.

Central nervous system tumors

This is the second most common malignancy diagnosed during childhood.

Signs and Symptoms

* Ataxia
* Other gait disturbances (hydrocephalus due to aqueduct compression)
* Cranial nerve abnormalities as a result of brainstem compression

Hodgkin's disease

The likelihood of developing Hodgkin's disease increases during childhood and it peaks in adolescence.

Hodgkin's disease

Signs and Symptoms

* Painless mass in the neck
* Persistent cough secondary to a mediastinal mass
* ''L''ess commonly: splenomegaly or enlarged axillary or inguinal lymph nodes
* Intermittent fever
* Drenching night sweats
* Loss of greater than 10 percent of total body weight.
* Anorexia
* Fatigue
* Pruritus
* Persistent painless mass

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is more common in older children, and it is less prevalent than Hodgkin's disease.

Signs and Symptoms

If the abdomen is affected

* Abdominal pain
* Vomiting or diarrhea
* Palpable mass and intussusception

If mediastinum is affected

* Severe dyspnea
* Superior vena cava syndrome

If head and neck masses are affected

* Palpable mass
* Cranial nerve palsies
* Nasal obstruction

Neuroblastoma

This cancer is an extracranial solid tumor commonly diagnosed in childhood.

Signs and Symptoms

* Dysfunction of the location of the primary tumor
* Anorexia
* Abdominal pain
* Distention.

Wilms' tumor

This malignancy presents as an abdominal mass in a child.

Signs and Symptoms

* Abdominal pain
* Gross hematuria
* Hypertension
* Fever.

Malignancies of the musculoskeletal system

A tumor that arises in the musculoskeletal system often presents as a mass, a painful extremity, or, occasionally, a pathologic fracture.

Signs and Symptoms

* Pain awakens a child at night
* Significant extremity dysfunction (when trauma is not involved)

Genetic syndromes associated with cancer

The cause of cancer is not yet well understood. Several chromosomal disorders and constitutional syndromes are associated with it.

Learning problems

Children with cancer are at risk for developing various cognitive or learning problems. These difficulties may be related to brain injury stemming from cancer itself, such as a brain tumor or central nervous system metastasis or from side effects of cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Studies have shown that chemo and radiation therapies may damage the brain white matter and disrupt brain activity.

This cognitive problem is known as post-chemotherapy cognitive impairment (PCCI) or "chemo brain." This term is commonly used by cancer survivors who describe having thinking and memory problems after cancer treatment. Researchers are unsure what exactly causes chemo brain, however, they say it is likely to be linked to either cancer itself, the cancer treatment, or be an emotional reaction to both.

This cognitive impairment is commonly noticed a few years after a child endures cancer treatment. When a childhood cancer survivor goes back to school, they might experience lower test scores, problems with memory, attention, and behavior, as well as poor hand-eye coordination and slowed development over time. Children with cancer should be monitored and assessed for these neuropsychological deficits during and after treatment. Patients with brain tumors can have cognitive impairments before treatment and radiation therapy is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment. Parents can apply their children for special educational services at school if their cognitive learning disability affects their educational success.

Risk factors

Risk factors are any genetic or environmental exposure that increases the chances of developing a pathological condition. Some examples are age, family history, environmental factors, genetics, and economic status among others.

Demographic risk factors

* Childhood cancer varies by age, sex, ethnicity, and race. Its incidence peaks in infancy with about 240 cases/million/year.
* This rate decreases to 128 cases per million from five–nine years of age, and it rises again to 220 cases/million.
* Slight male dominance for most childhood cancers.

Environmental factors

* High dos
ionizing
radiation and prior chemotherapy are accepted causes of childhood cancer, each raising risk severalfold (4-7).

Genetic factors

Identified Cancer Predisposition Syndromes

* Li-Fraumeni syndrome (TP53)
* Hereditary breast or ovarian cancer (BRCA )
* Colorectal cancer/polyposis syndromes
* Familial retinoblastoma (RB1)
* Familial and genetic factors are identified in 5-15% of childhood cancer cases. In <5-10% of cases, there are known environmental exposures and exogenous factors, such as prenatal exposure to tobacco, X-rays, or certain medications. In turn citing:
*
* For the remaining 75-90% of cases, however, the individual causes remain unknown. In most cases, as in carcinogenesis in general, the cancers are assumed to involve multiple risk factors and variables. In turn citing:
>

Aspects that make the risk factors of childhood cancer different from those seen in adult cancers include:
*Different, and sometimes unique, exposures to environmental hazards. Children must often rely on adults to protect them from toxic environmental agents.
*Immature physiological systems to clear or metabolize environmental substances
*The growth and development of children in phases known as "developmental windows" result in certain "critical windows of vulnerability".
Also, a longer life expectancy in children allows for a longer time to manifest cancer processes with long latency periods, increasing the risk of developing some cancer types later in life.

Advanced parental age has been associated with an increased risk of childhood cancer in the offspring. There are preventable causes of childhood malignancy, such as delivery overuse and misuse of ionizing radiation through computed tomography scans when the test is not indicated or when adult protocols are used.

Diagnosis

Types

The most common childhood cancers (birth-14 years old) are Leukemia (28%), central nervous system tumors (27%), and Lymphomas (12%). In 2020-2022, 1.9 per 100,000 children died from cancer.

In 2005, 4.1 of every 100,000 young people under 20 years of age in the U.S. were diagnosed with leukemia, and 0.8 per 100,000 died from it. The number of new cases was highest among the 1–4 age group, but the number of deaths was highest among the 10–14 age group.

In 2005, 2.9 of every 100,000 people 0–19 years of age were found to have cancer of the brain or central nervous system, and 0.7 per 100,000 died from it. These cancers were found most often in children between 1 and 4 years of age, but the most deaths occurred among those aged 5–9. The main subtypes of brain and central nervous system tumors in children are: astrocytoma, brain stem glioma, craniopharyngioma, desmoplastic infantile ganglioglioma, ependymoma, high-grade glioma, medulloblastoma and atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor.

Other, less common childhood cancer types are:
* Neuroblastoma (6%, nervous system)
* Wilms tumor (5%, kidney)
*Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (4%, blood)
* Childhood rhabdomyosarcoma (3%, many sites)
*Retinoblastoma (3%, eye)
*Osteosarcoma (3%, bone cancer)
* Ewing sarcoma (1%, many sites)
*Germ cell tumors (5%, many sites)
* Pleuropulmonary blastoma (lung or pleural cavity)
* Hepatoblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma ( liver cancer)
* Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia

Medical specialties

Overall, treating childhood cancer requires a multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, social workers, therapists, and other community members. Here is a brief list of doctors that can treat childhood cancer:
*''Pediatric oncologist'': These doctors specialize in treating childhood cancers.
*''Pediatric hematology-oncologist:'' These doctors specialize in treating blood diseases in children.
*''Pediatric surgeon'': These doctors specialize in performing surgery on children.
*''Adolescent and young adult oncology (AYA)'': AYA is a branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer in adolescents and young adults, often defined as those aged 13–30. Studies have continuously shown that while pediatric cancer survival rates have gone up, the survival rate for adolescents and young adults has remained stagnant. Additionally, AYA helps patients with college concerns, fertility, and a sense of aloneness. Studies have often shown that treating young adults with the same protocols used in pediatrics is more effective than adult-oriented treatments.

Other specialties that can assist the treatment process include radiology, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, psychiatry, and endocrinology.

Treatment

Childhood cancer treatment is individualized and varies based on the severity & type of cancer. In general, treatment can include surgical resection, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy.

Recent medical advances have improved our understanding of the genetic basis of childhood cancers. Treatment options are expanding, and precision medicine for childhood cancers is a rapidly growing area of research.

The side effects of chemotherapy can result in immediate and long-term treatment-related comorbidities. For children undergoing treatment for high-risk cancer, more than 80% experience life-threatening or fatal toxicity as a result of their treatment.

Psychosocial Care

Psychosocial care of children with cancer is also important during the cancer journey, but the implementation of evidence-based interventions need to be further spread across pediatric cancer centers. In general, psychosocial care can include therapy with a psychologist or psychiatrist, referral to a social worker, or referral to a pastoral counselor. Family-centered psychosocial care is one approach that can be used to not only support the patient's psychosocial well-being but also support the parents and any caregivers of the patient.

Play Therapy

One type of psychosocial care for children with cancer is play therapy, which means that the child is using an essential part of childhood to increase mental and physical well-being while reducing the negative emotions that come from being in the hospital. Children need to engage in play, even if they are in a hospital. Some types of play therapy use distraction tactics for intervening on anxiety, while also allowing children to communicate their feelings by reflecting on abilities and emotions that they are using as they adapt to the new environment of the hospital.

There are multiple types of play therapy, including medical play, pretend play, or direct play. Medical play reduces anxiety and stress by using medical tools or equipment to explain fears of treatments, procedures, and hospital settings''.'' Other types of play therapy include drawing therapy, painting therapy, puzzle therapy, and storytelling. Drawing, painting, storytelling, and puzzle play therapy are relaxing techniques that do not take too much energy from the patient, so they can avoid fatigue while also engaging in psychosocial and mental development, and creativity. Further, these are accessible types of therapy for children as they are easy to engage in, affordable, and liked by children.

Drawing, painting, puzzle therapy, and storytelling as play therapy techniques all help to reduce anxiety and fear in a hospital setting, which also helps to increase cooperative behavior in children with cancer. Play therapy is effective not only for just the children but also for improving relationships between hospital staff and children. Improving this relationship can lead to children being more open about their fears and anxieties and help them gain a sense of independence.

In children with Leukemia, it has been found that play therapy decreases adverse psychosocial outcomes, like pain and fatigue.

Family Therapy

Family therapy is important because it allows for bonding time within a family, which can increase social support for both the patient and the family. Family therapy is child-parent interaction based, giving the family time to have conversations and understand what they are feeling. Parents are able to be supported in having conversations about treatment or medical conditions, where they may have had trouble beforehand. By incorporating care for each member, families are better able to reach a state of life that was similar to the one before a diagnosis. Starting therapy at diagnosis before treatment can be more beneficial because it will also act as a preventative measure. The time of diagnosis is when families tend to be most stressed and carry the most negative emotions.

Family therapy can be used for all ages. Children at younger ages can benefit from play therapy and children at older ages need more communication-based therapy. Overall, family therapy can improve the quality of life of children with cancer and improve mental health. It can also alleviate the effects of depression, anxiety, and poor quality of life that other family members have.

Palliative Care

Aspects such as pain, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, and anxiety were improved in children with the use of specialty palliative care. Children's overall quality of life improved, with some experiencing fun events towards the end of life. Families gained positive satisfaction from these programs.

Prognosis

With the advancement of new treatments for childhood cancer, 85% of individuals who had childhood cancer now survive five years or more. This is an increase from the mid-1970s when only 58% of children with childhood cancer survived five years or more. However, this survival rate is dependent on many factors such as the type of cancer, age of onset, location of the cancer, cancer stage, and if there is any genetic component to cancer. Survival rate is also impacted by socioeconomic status and access to resources during treatment.

Since adult survivors of childhood cancer are living longer, these individuals may experience long-term complications that are associated with their cancer treatment. This can include problems with organ function, growth and development, neurocognitive function and academic achievement, and risk for additional cancers.

Premature heart disease is one example of a major long-term consequence seen in adult survivors of childhood cancer. These individuals are eight times more likely to die of heart disease than other people, and up to one quarter of the children treated for cancer develop some type of cardiac abnormality, mainly left ventricular systolic dysfunction although this may be asymptomatic or too mild to qualify for a clinical diagnosis of heart disease. Survivors of childhood cancer, previously treated with anthracycline chemotherapy (including mitoxantrone) or radiotherapy in which the heart was exposed, are at increased risk of cardiomyopathy.

Childhood cancer survivors are also at risk of sustaining adverse effects on the kidneys and the liver. Specific cancer treatments such as cisplatin, carboplatin, and radiotherapy are known to cause kidney damage. The risk of liver damage is increased in those who have had radiotherapy to the liver and in those with other risk factors, such as a higher body mass index or chronic viral hepatitis. Certain treatments and liver surgery may also increase the risk of adverse liver effects in childhood cancer survivors.

To help monitor for these long-term consequences, a set of guidelines has been created to facilitate long-term follow-up for childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors. This guides healthcare professionals on providing high-quality follow-up care and appropriate monitoring. These guidelines also help healthcare providers collaborate with oncology specialists to create recommendations specific to an individual patient.

Quality of Life in Survivors

Usually, Quality of Life improves with time since diagnosis, especially for children with solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Children with a CNS tumors, on the other hand, show little or no improvement over time. Quality of Life is often measured both during and after treatment, but international comparisons of both outcomes and predictors are hindered by the use of a large number of different measurements. Recently, a first step for a joint international consensus statement for measuring Quality of Life in survivors of childhood cancer has been established.

Epidemiology

Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of disease frequency in the human population and the study of how to control health problems. Internationally, the greatest variation in childhood cancer incidence occurs when comparing high-income countries to low-income ones. In turn citing: This may result from differences in being able to diagnose cancer, differences in risk among different ethnic or racial population subgroups, as well as differences in risk factors. An example of differing risk factors is in cases of pediatric Burkitt lymphoma, a form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that sickens 6 to 7 children out of every 100,000 annually in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, where it is associated with a history of infection by both Epstein-Barr virus and malaria. In industrialized countries, Burkitt lymphoma is not associated with these infectious diseases. Non-Hispanic white children often have a better chance of survival compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Where an individual lives is one of the biggest determinants of health in the world, as illness and healthcare options can vary by an individual's postal code.

United States

In the United States, cancer is the second most common cause of death among children between the ages of 1 and 14 years, exceeded only by unintentional injuries such as injuries sustained in a car wreck. More than 16 out of every 100,000 children and teens in the U.S. were diagnosed with cancer, and nearly 3 of every 100,000 died from the disease. In the United States in 2012, it was estimated that there was an incidence of 12,000 new cases, and 1,300 deaths, from cancer among children 0 to 14 years of age. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in males and fourth in women under the age of 20 in the United States. The survival rate of children with cancer has improved since the late 1960s which is due to improved treatment and public health measures. The estimated proportion surviving 5 years from diagnosis increased from 77.8 percent to 82.7 percent to 85.4 percent for those diagnosed in the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010–2016.

Statistics from the 2014 American Cancer Society report:

''Note: Incidence and mortality rates are per 1,000,000 and age-adjusted to the 2000 US standard population. Observed survival percentage is based on data from 2003 to 2009.''

Sub-Saharan Africa

A large number of children in Africa live in low- and middle-income countries where there is limited access to prevention or treatment of cancer. The under-five mortality rate ( U5MR), a robust indicator of child health, is 109 per 1,000 live births. The proportion of childhood cancer is higher in Africa than in developed countries, at 4.8%. Kids with cancer are disadvantaged compared to kids in developed countries; therefore their statistic for childhood cancer is higher. In sub-Saharan Africa, 10% of children die before their 5th birthday, yet it is not due to cancer; communicable diseases such as malaria, cholera, and other infections are the leading cause of death. Children with cancer are often exposed to these preventable infections and diseases. Tumor registries only cover 11% of the African population, and there is a significant absence in death registration, making the mortality database unreliable. Overall, there is a lack of reliable data, as there is limited funding and many diseases are largely unknown to this population.

United Kingdom

Cancer in children is rare in the UK, with an average of 1,800 diagnoses every year but contributing to less than 1% of all cancer-related deaths. Age is not a confounding factor in mortality from the disease in the UK. From 2014 to 2016, approximately 230 children died from cancer, with brain/CNS cancers being the most commonly fatal type.

Foundations and fundraising

Currently, there are various organizations whose main focus is fighting childhood cancer. Organizations focused on childhood cancer through cancer research and/or support programs include: Childhood Cancer Canada, Young Lives vs Cancer and the Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group (in United Kingdom), Child Cancer Foundation (in New Zealand), Children's Cancer Recovery Foundation (in United States), American Childhood Cancer Organization (in United States), Childhood Cancer Support (Australia) and the Hayim Association (in Israel). Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation allows people across the US to raise money for pediatric cancer research by organizing lemonade stands. The National Pediatric Cancer Foundation focuses on finding less toxic and more effective treatments for pediatric cancers. This foundation works with 24 different hospitals across the US in search of treatments effective in practice. Childhood Cancer International is the largest global pediatric cancer foundation. It focuses on early access to care for childhood cancers, focusing on patient support, and patient advocacy.

According to estimates by experts in the field of pediatric cancer, by 2020, cancer will cost $158 million annually for both research and treatment which marks a 27% increase since 2010. Ways in which the foundations are helped by people include writing checks, collecting spare coins, bake/lemonade sales, donating portions of purchases from stores or restaurants, or Paid Time Off donations as well as auctions, bike rides, dance-a-thons. Additionally, many of the major foundations have donation buttons on their respective websites.

In addition to advancing research focusing on cancer, the foundations also offer support to families whose children are affected by the disease. The estimated total cost for one child with cancer (medical costs and lost parental wages) is $833,000. Organizations such as the National Children's Cancer Society and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society can provide financial assistance for the costs associated with childhood cancer like medical care, home care, child care, and transportation.

Importance of family support

The emotional challenges that a parent may encounter can disrupt their child's treatment, parenting, and support for the child who is ill and their siblings, and impact overall family stability. Therefore, having a support network during this time is important. Different foundations fund support groups within hospitals and online for parents and families to aid in the coping process. Targeted support for siblings of children with cancer is also warranted. Resources that account for family context, age, and gender can help siblings process cancer-related emotional reactions. These targeted resources help promote family activities and normal family functioning while enhancing family adjustment over time.

The foundations for pediatric cancer all fall under the 501(c)3 designation which means they are tax-exempt non-profit organizations. The "International Childhood Cancer Day" occurs annually on February 15.

References

{{Authority control

Pediatric cancers