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Cancer is the second most common cause of death among children. It is estimated that approximately 1200-1300 young patients are diagnosed with “malignant neoplasm” each year in Poland. The youngest ones most often suffer from leukemia and brain tumors.
Leukemia in children
It is the most common type of childhood cancer – around 30 percent. cases of neoplastic changes in this age group are associated with pathology of the hematopoietic system. In children, it comes in two forms: acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
Leukemia is a cancer that begins in the bone marrow and affects the quantity and quality of peripheral blood cells. The initial symptoms of cancer are varied and sometimes resemble infections. The most common ones include: headache and pain in the extremities, low-grade fever, pallor of the skin, apathy and drowsiness, and enlarged lymph nodes. In the event of the above-mentioned symptoms, a doctor should be consulted, who will decide whether to perform more detailed tests or the need to consult a specialist.
- I suspect leukemia in a child. What to do?
In order to definitively confirm the presence of leukemia, it is necessary to perform a bone marrow examination. The prognosis for acute myeloid leukemia is much worse than for lymphoblastic leukemia.
Tumors of the central nervous system (tumors of the brain and spinal cord) in children
Primary neoplasms of the central nervous system are the most common solid neoplasms in children, and the most common, after leukemia, childhood neoplasms in general. They are usually diagnosed between the ages of 1 and 10, slightly more often in boys. Due to the type of cells that brain tumors are made of, we distinguish: astrocytomas, gliomas, ependymomas and medulloblastomas. They can also occur as poorly differentiated neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs) and tumors derived from primary germ cells.
The first symptoms of nervous system neoplasms are associated with an increase in intracranial pressure – morning vomiting on an empty stomach, headaches, various neurological symptoms, such as strabismus, swallowing, vision, gait and balance disorders. In the case of tumors located in the spinal cord, the most common symptoms are pain in the back and limbs, especially at night, limb paresis, sensory disturbances, and curvature of the spine. Imaging tests – computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging – play a very important role in the diagnosis of neoplasms of the nervous system. Treatment includes surgical removal of the tumor, followed by chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Lymphomas in children
Tumors of the lymphatic system come in two forms: as Hodgkin’s lymphoma (formerly known as Hodgkin’s lymphoma) and as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. They can be located in various places: neck, mouth, chest, abdomen, armpits or groin. The main symptom associated with both Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is lymphadenopathy. It may be accompanied by: increased temperature, sweating, weight loss, abdominal pain, cough and general weakness. The basis for the diagnosis of lymphomas is microscopic examination of the entire selected lymph node collected by biopsy. To assess the stage of the disease, it is also necessary to examine the bone marrow and imaging tests (X-ray, ultrasound, computed tomography).
- Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma – learn more
In the treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multi-drug chemotherapy and low-dose radiation therapy of fields limited to the regions affected by the disease are used. Currently used treatment methods allow for the cure of over 90%. children with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is based on multi-drug chemotherapy programs.
Sympathetic neuroblastoma (neuroblastoma) in children
It is a tumor of the nerve tissue in the neck, chest, abdomen or pelvis. It often begins in the adrenal glands. In sick children, general symptoms such as weight loss, pallor, weakness, anorexia, as well as lumpy lesions found on palpation are very common. Most often, neoplasm is diagnosed in small patients up to the age of three. The diagnosis of neuroblastoma is based on the histopathological examination of the tumor. Before starting treatment, the stage of the disease should be determined on the basis of various imaging, biochemical and genetic tests. The treatment involves pre-operative multi-drug chemotherapy followed by surgery, as radical as possible.
After the tumor is surgically removed, post-operative chemotherapy and radiation therapy are given. If the disease is diagnosed at an early stage, the five-year survival rate for children under the age of 1 is about 90% and for children over 1 year old about 65%.
Wilms’ tumor (embryonic nephroblastoma) in children
It is most often diagnosed between the ages of 3 and 5 and develops within the kidneys. It usually affects one organ, but there are cases when it is localized in both. The main symptoms of cancer are abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, haematuria, hypertension, constipation, enlarged abdominal circumference or asymmetry of the abdominal wall, and palpable lumpy formation.
- Kidney cancer – a rare tumor
The prognosis of the embryonic kidney is very good, especially in the lower stages of clinical advancement. Treatment is started with an initial chemotherapy treatment for all children over six months of age. This allows the tumor size to be reduced. After 4 weeks of chemotherapy, surgery is performed to remove the tumor. Infants under 6 months of age are operated without initial chemotherapy.
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