WHO Tweeted About The Most Common Types Of Childhood Cancers

Cancer is an ailment that spread through a diseased cell, and some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably. It is a non-contagious but deadly disease. Each year, an estimated 4,00,000 children and adolescents of 0-19 years old develop cancer. It is a leading cause of death for children and adolescents. In high-income countries, where comprehensive services are generally accessible, more than 80% of children with cancer are cured, whereas in low or middle-income countries less than 30% are cured.

Cancer occurs in people of all ages and can affect any part of the body. It begins with a genetic change in single cells that then grow into a mass or tumor. The tumour then further invades other parts of the body and causes harm and death if left untreated. Many childhood cancers do not have a known cause but very few cancers in children are caused due to environmental or lifestyle changes.
The World Health Organisation is doing its bit to make people aware of certain types of diseases like cancer. It recently tweeted about the common types of cancers that can be developed in children.

Some Common Types Of Childhood Cancers Are:

• Leukaemia (blood cancer)- cancer in blood-forming tissues.
• Brain Cancer- abnormal growth of cells in the brain.
• Lymphomas- cancer in the lymphatic system.
• Solid Tumours- such as neuroblastoma and Wilms tumours. Tumours are abnormal masses of tissue that do not have cysts or liquid areas.

Childhood cancer cannot generally be prevented or identified through screening.

Treatment:

Childhood cancers can be cured with generic medicines and other forms of treatment including surgery and radiotherapy treatment of childhood cancer can be cost-effective in all income settings. Children also need special need and attention to their continued physical and cognitive growth and nutritional status, which requires a dedicated and multi-disciplinary team.

Delay in diagnosis, an inability to obtain an accurate diagnosis, inaccessible therapy, abandonment of treatment, death from toxicity, and avoidable relapse- are few of the reasons for lower survival rate of low and middle income group children. Whereas, improving access to childhood care, including essential medicines and technologies, is highly cost effective, feasible and can improve survival in all settings.

Over To You:

Early diagnosis can help treat cancers effectively. It includes awareness of symptoms by families and primary caregivers; accurate and timely clinical evaluation, diagnosis and staging; and access to prompt treatment.