Download Research Paper - WordPress.com

Lamanac 1
Cody Lamanac
Mrs. Chambers
British Literature
21 November 2014
Supporting Treatment of Pediatric Cancer
As a child with cancer lies in a hospital bed, the ultimate question looms about the
family: subject the little one to treatments or allow the cancer to engulf the child’s life and
ultimately kill the defenseless child. The question of treatment for a child seems like a clear cut
choice; however, when in the position to make a decision that involves a young life, weighing
the options is difficult. When making this life-changing decision, families have several
considerations. These considerations are composed of the type of cancer therapy, associated
risks, and long term effects and future health problems of the child. Weighing all of this
information is strenuous on a family and is difficult to decide. However, based on information
provided by doctors and from recent research, pediatric cancer patients should be subjected to
treatments because the benefits and survival rates outweigh the adverse effects.
Many types of cancer therapy, better known as cancer treatment, are specialized for
specific cancers and result in minimal long-term effects and a longer period of sustained
remission, supporting that patients should be subjected to cancer treatment. Proton therapy is
one of these specialized treatments. According to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, “proton
therapy is particularly well suited to many pediatric tumors because it can precisely target tumors
near or within sensitive organs while minimizing radiation exposure to healthy tissue- reducing
the risk of both short- and long-term side effects” (Pediatric). This type of cancer therapy
reassures families that treatment is the right choice for a child. Minimizing and possibly
Lamanac 2
eliminating long-term associated risks is key in ensuring a child’s health and long fulfilling life
ahead of them.
Sustaining remission accompanied with minimal to no long-term effects is the ultimate
goal in treating pediatric cancer patients. New and improved cancer treatments are on the rise.
Another therapy that has come to rise is Myeloablative Therapy. The Center for Advancing
Health says, “a new review suggest that this ‘myeloablative therapy’ is worth the effort: children
who receive this treatment stay disease-free and live longer than do those who have conventional
chemotherapy” (Aggressive). When many people hear the word cancer, they almost
immediately think chemotherapy is the planned treatment and often worry about everything that
goes along with chemotherapy treatment. However, treatments such as Myeloablative Therapy
give options of a cure that is not as violent to the body as more conventional methods. Selection
of treatments for cancer patients is very important. The selections and determinations are often
based on the age of the child, the size of the child, the stage of the cancer, and the type of cancer.
In order for treatments to be effective and cause the least amount of harm and long-term
effects, many doctors base treatment options on the type of cancer diagnosed for a patient. Anna
T. Meadows, MD, talks about one improvement that has made a large difference in helping
choose treatments that can ultimately lessen the long-term effects. According to Dr. Meadows,
“one of the most salutary improvements during the last two decades in treating children with
cancer has been the emphasis on so-called “prognostic factors” in selecting treatment appropriate
to the risk of recurrence” (Meadows). Selecting the appropriate treatment is critical for families
of cancer patients. The research on improved treatments allows doctors to advise and guide
families when making crucial decisions for their children. The decisions made for the child will
have lifelong impacts on not only the child but also on the family.
Lamanac 3
The risks associated with cancer treatments have lessened over the years with the
progression of cancer research and development, thus pediatric cancer patients should not be
concerned about high risks. According to KidsHealth.org, “doctors use precautions and other
medications to counteract side effects” (Childhood). The use of other medications to lessen the
side effects ensures families their child will not suffer tremendously during and after treatment.
Advances in treatments resulting in lessened risks give families assurance to move forward with
treatment. KidsHealth.org credits medical advances for more children finishing successful
treatment and being able to grow up just like everyone else (Childhood). Thanks to the
improvements with treatments and lower risks, children are able to live a normal fulfilling life
after completing treatment for many types of cancer.
There are more cancer survivors now than ever before, thus subjecting pediatric cancer
patients to treatment is the right thing to do. According to the Dana- Farber Cancer Center,
“while more children are developing cancer, fewer are dying from it. Childhood cancer
mortality rates over the same time fell by 2.4 percent per year, as a steeper decline than the 1.5
percent reduction seen for all cancers nationally” (More). Even though many children may be
developing cancer, the lowered risks give comfort in knowing a child’s treatment is to be more
effective and less risky. With mortality rates dropping, it is apparent the treatments are doing
what they are supposed to and saving the lives of these children. With evidence of lowered risks,
families are pursuing treatments for children. The risk of a child dying from cancer is greater if
the child does not receive treatment than not receiving any treatment at all for the cancer.
Improvements in the treatments and cures for pediatric cancer patients have lessened the
long-term effects and health risks associated with cancer treatment; therefore, patients should be
subjected to the treatments. Improvements in the treatment of cancer include saving and
Lamanac 4
lessening the harm done to surrounding vital organs. As indicated by The Seattle Cancer Care
Alliance, “sparing more healthy tissue in children’s developing bodies, side effects on growing
bones, brain function, hearing, and the heart and many other organs often can be reduced and
sometimes eliminated when protons are used in place of conventional radiation…reduce the risk
of developing a new tumor later in life” (Pediatric). The improvements in treatments allow
doctors to be more precise in treating the diagnosed cancer. Children’s developing bodies are at
high risk because their vital organs are more susceptible to be affected by the treatments because
they are still developing. Treatments, such as proton therapy, reduce the risks to vital organs and
thus lessen the long-term effects to the patient. Long-term effects from cancer therapy cannot be
completely eliminated, but the long-term effects are not as dire today as many years ago.
Some patients will not be able to take other types of treatments, such as proton therapy
that was discussed earlier, due to the type of cancer in which one has been diagnosed; however,
doctors are able to still improve traditional treatments such as chemotherapy and high-dose
chemo therapy. According to The Center for Advancing Health, “children who had high-dose
chemotherapy with hematopoietic stem cell rescue- the transplant of their own blood-producing
cells- remained well and without recurrent disease for longer than did those who received
conventional chemotherapy” (Aggressive). The addition of transplanting the patient’s own
blood-producing cells is a method by which doctors were able to improve a current treatment in
order to better benefit and cure the patient. Improvements in treatments, such as the cell
transplant, reduce the long-term effects and health risks and lengthen the time of remission and
prevent recurrent disease.
Thanks to research and development of cancer treatment, doctors are able to better treat
patients and set them on a path of a long fulfilling life. Even though there has been major
Lamanac 5
developments in the treatment of cancer, patients still continue to worry about the risk and longterm effects that coincide with the treatments. Dr. Oeffinger tells his patients, “as soon as we
start talking about risk, I always remind people that if we don’t cure the Cancer, talking about the
late effects is irrelevant” (Center). This statement is true in every aspect. Why would one need
to worry about risks and long-term effects if they do not cure what they are ailed by? The other
side is if a patient is not going to be subjected to treatment, then the talk of what could and might
happen later in life is a moot point. The only thing that keeps the treatments from working is
cancer patients and families that are not even willing to try treatment. Allowing pediatric cancer
patients to receive treatments ultimately helps all pediatric patients. If families are willing to
allow the slight risks and the possibilities of long-term effects, the information doctors and
researchers gather while treating the patient and in years after successful treatment will benefit
other pediatric patients in the future.
In conclusion, the research and information available about pediatric cancer treatments
supports the benefits of subjecting children with cancer to available treatments. The substantial
progress made in the field of pediatric cancer treatment is astonishing and is supportive of the
claim that pediatric cancer patients should be subjected to treatments. Researchers and doctors
are gaining more insight every day about cancer and how to more successfully treat patients.
Doctors are now able to provide better information and guidance to families making life
changing decisions for his or her pediatric cancer patient. Improvements in the types of therapy
and existing therapies give a cancer patient a higher likelihood of surviving and living a fulfilling
life in the future. Without pediatric patients participating in the treatments, improvements cannot
be identified. In the end, parents are better served by allowing their children with cancer to be
treated. Not allowing treatment is almost guaranteeing a shorter life for the child. Subjecting a
Lamanac 6
child with cancer to treatment gives him or her a better chance of survival and the opportunity to
become a healthy adult.
Lamanac 7
Works Cited
"Aggressive Approach to Childhood Cancer Worth Risks, Review Finds." Center for Advancing
Health. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2014.
"Center News Magazine: Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Treatment." Center News Magazine:
Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Treatment. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2014.
"Childhood Cancer." KidsHealth - the Web's Most Visited Site about Children's Health. Ed.
Robin E. Miller. The Nemours Foundation, 01 Sept. 2010. Web. 30 Oct. 2014.
Meadows, Anna T. Pediatric Cancer Survivors: Past History and Future Challenges Anna T.
Meadows, MD Director, Follow-up Program, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Professor of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (n.d.): n. pag.
Web. 28 Oct. 2014.
"More Children Are Developing Cancer, But Fewer Are Dying from It." Pediatric Cancer
Survivorship Increasing. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2014.
"Pediatric Cancers." Proton Therapy for. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2014.