Download Childhood Cancer

Childhood Cancer
Gabby Kulikowski & Kellie Campbell
What is Cancer?
 All types of cancer start because of out-of-control
growth of abnormal cells.
 Instead of dying, cancer cells continue to grow and
form new, abnormal cells.
 Cancer cells can also invade other tissues.
 Growing out of control and invading other tissues are
what makes a cell a cancer cell.
 In most cases the cancer cells form a tumor. Some
cancers, like leukemia, rarely form tumors.
How is Childhood Cancer
Different from Adult Cancer?
 Development
 Childhood cancers are often the result of DNA changes
in cells that take place very early in life, sometimes
even before birth.
 Cancers in adults are strongly linked to lifestyle or
environmental risk factors.
 Treatment
 Children’s bodies can handle chemotherapy better than
adults’.
 HOWEVER Cancer treatments such as chemo and
radiation therapy can cause long-term side effects
 Children who have had cancer will need careful follow-up for
the rest of their lives.
Types of Childhood Cancer
 Leukemia (most common type)
 Brain and other CNS tumors
 Neuroblastoma
 Wilms tumor
 Lymphoma (including Hodgkin and non-hodgkin)
 Rhabdomyosarcoma
 Retinoblastoma
 Bone cancer
Prevention
 A few environmental factors, such as radiation
exposure, have been linked with some types of
childhood cancers. However, most childhood
cancers have not shown to have outside causes.
 Childhood cancer is difficult to prevent because
most cases are a result of inherited DNA.
Improvements
 In recent years, scientists have made great progress
in understanding how certain changes in our DNA
can cause cells to become cancerous.
 There have been major advances in treatment in
recent decades, resulting in a greater survival rate.
Statistics
 Cancer is the second leading cause of death in
children (after accidents).
 Childhood cancer rates have been rising slightly for
the past few decades.
 About 11,630 children in the United States under the
age of 15 will be diagnosed with cancer in 2013
 About 1,310 children younger than 15 years old are
expected to die from cancer in 2013.
Statistics
 More than 80% of children with cancer now survive
5 years or more. Whereas the 5-year survival rate in
the mid-1970s was less than 60%.
 Childhood cancers are rare, making up less than 1%
of all cancers diagnosed each year
Treatment
 Treatments are chosen for childhood cancers based
mainly on the type and stage of the cancer.
 Treatment options might include surgery, radiation
therapy, chemotherapy, and/or other types of
treatment.
 There are exceptions, but childhood cancers usually
respond well to chemotherapy because they tend to
be cancers that grow fast.
The Treatment Team
 Pediatric oncologists
 Doctors who specialize in using medicines to treat children
with cancer
 Pediatric surgeons
 Doctors who specialize in performing surgery in children
 Radiation oncologists
 Doctors who specialize in using radiation to treat cancer
 Pediatric oncology nurses
 Nurses who specialize in caring for children with cancer
 Nurse practitioners and physician assistants
 Nurses and other professionals who are specially trained
and licensed to practice medicine alongside doctors
The Treatment Team cont.
 The centers where children are treated for cancer also
include:
 Psychologists
 Social workers
 Child life specialists
 Nutritionists
 Rehabilitation and physical therapists
 Educators who can support and educate the entire family
Childhood Cancer Awareness
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FRC94_25kA