Notice: The SMCHD phone system is experiencing issues for some users. If you are unable to get through, please call (301) 475-4350 and leave a message for a return call. IT support is working to resolve the issue. We apologize for this inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

Childhood Cancer Awareness

– Contributed by Mollie E. Davis, SMCHD Guest Author – 

Childhood cancer is the second leading cause of death in children past infancy and under age 15 (with accidents being the first). During 2016, over 10,000 children will be diagnosed with cancer and about 12% of children with cancer will die from the disease.

The most common cancer diagnoses in children include neuroblastoma, tumors in the brain and central nervous system, and acute lymphocytic leukemia. Treatment for childhood cancers is not always the same as that for adults. Pediatric oncology is a medical specialty focused on the care of children with cancer. The type of treatment a child receives depends on the type of cancer and how advanced it is.

researchOne of the most challenging childhood cancers to treat is diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, commonly referred to as DIPG. DIPG is a cancerous tumor located in the brainstem and it affects approximately 200-300 children each year. The prognosis for this disease has remained significantly worse than other brainstem cancers for the past three decades, largely due to lack of understanding of the disease. Following diagnosis, the average survival time is typically under one year. Through research and coordinated and collaborative efforts, more has been published about DIPG in recent years, creating cautious enthusiasm about treatment.

Further research and clinical trials are necessary to prevent and treat childhood cancer for upcoming generations.

The treatment of cancer may cause health problems for childhood cancer survivors months or years after successful treatment has ended, called “late effects”. While most late effects are not life-threatening, they may cause serious health and quality of life problems. Late effects in childhood cancer survivors may affect organ, tissue and body function; growth and development; social and psychological adjustment; and risk of second cancers. Treatments that may cause late effects include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and stem cell transplant. Through research, clinicians are working to improve cancer treatments and stop or lessen late effects. Regular follow-up by health professionals who are trained to find and treat late effects and good health habits are important for the long-term health of childhood cancer survivors.

The good news is that most childhood cancers can be cured. With advances in cancer treatment, today more than 80 percent of children diagnosed with cancer are alive at least five years after diagnosis. More funding is needed to conduct research and clinical trials so that even more effective cures can be found.

protect_children_guide_page_1

While it is unknown what causes most childhood cancers – about 5 percent of all childhood cancers are caused by an inherited genetic mutation – there are steps parents can take to help prevent some cancers later in life:

  • Teach your child about sun safety. Just a few sunburns can increase your child’s risk of skin cancer later in life. Never allow your teenager to use a tanning bed.
  • Get your kids vaccinated against HPV. The human papillomavirus is the main cause of cervical cancer, and also causes other types of cancers. Both boys and girls should receive the HPV vaccine series when they are 11 or 12 years old, before they become sexually active.
  • Talk to your kids about the dangers of smoking. The best way to prevent cancers caused by smoking is never to start. Nearly nine out of 10 smokers start smoking by age 18. If you smoke, don’t smoke around your children – there is no safe level of secondhand smoke – and better yet, quit smoking. For help with quitting tobacco, the St. Mary’s County Health Department offers FREE Quit Tobacco Classes.
  • Help your child eat healthy and get at least one hour of physical activity each day.

cancer-patient-2The importance of research and clinical trials to prevent and treat childhood cancer is a continuing message. Information for parents about talking with your child about cancer is available at the National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute website.

“Awareness is like the sun. When it shines on things, they are transformed.”

-Thich Nhat Hanh

About Guest Author, Mollie E. Davis

Mollie is a junior at Great Mills High School. Besides being a passionate advocate for childhood cancer awareness, she is a member of the competitive marching band in the color guard. In her free time, Mollie enjoys writing and hopes someday to be a journalist and a politician.

Translate »