International Child Cancer Day: More than 400,000 children get diagnosed with cancer every year

Child cancer is an under-discussed yet insidious health risk.

According to a World Health Organization report, about 400,000 children and young adults aged 0–19, get diagnosed with cancer. In India, over 75,000 children experience cancer symptoms, reveals WHO. The most common types of cancer in children are leukemia, brain cancer, and certain types of tumours like neuroblastomas and Wilms tumours. Usually, cancers that affect children are known as pediatric cancers.

Leukemia

According to a WebMD.com report, leukemia is the most common pediatric cancer, and almost one in three children may be diagnosed with leukemia. This is a type of blood cancer that occurs when the DNA of a single bone marrow cell changes dramatically. This leads to an abnormal growth of blood cells.

Symptoms:

• A perpetual feeling of tiredness.
• Frequent spells of dizziness.

Shortness of breath.
Chronic anaemia.
Bleeding gums and nosebleeds.
Joint pain.

Tumours In The Brain & Spinal Chords
About 26 percent of pediatric cancers are brain and spinal cord tumours. Tumours are masses of overgrown cells.

Symptoms:
Symptoms include constant headaches, nausea, blurred vision, vomiting, etc.

Neuroblastomas
Another common childhood cancer (about six per cent), neuroblastomas are tumours that attack and damage the nerve cells. In most cases, the cancerous cells first develop in the stomach and later spread to other parts of the body.

Symptoms
Your child may develop a sudden swelling or bloating in the stomach area, upper chest, legs, etc. They may also lose weight rapidly.

Wilms Tumour
This tumour develops in the kidneys.

Symptoms
Symptoms include fever, a bloated belly, and a loss of appetite. Blood in the urine can also be observed.

Lymphomas
This form of cancer affects the immune system, also known as lymphocytes. In the early stages, swollen lymph nodes can be detected in the groins and armpits. Symptoms include vomiting, lethargy, sweating, etc.

How To Reduce The Incidence Of Pediatric Cancer
Before we discuss methods to improve the outcomes of childhood cancer, one thing needs to be addressed. The vast majority of childhood cancer cases are caused by genetic factors, rather than poor lifestyle choices. In a few instances, cancer may be caused by chronic infections such as HIV, Epstein-Barr virus, and malaria. Here’s what you can do to ensure better outcomes for childhood cancers:

Vaccinate Your Kids
It's better to be safe than sorry. Vaccinating your child against diseases such as hepatitis B may reduce the risk of liver virus, and vaccinating against the human papillomavirus may protect your kids against cervical cancer.

Go For An Early Diagnosis
Cancers become rather difficult to cure in the advanced stages, so if your child is displaying suspicious symptoms such as incessant bleeding, and non-stop fevers, consider having them screened for cancer.