Childhood Cancer

The child cancer represents a group of various diseases that have in common the uncontrolled proliferation of abnormal cells and can occur anywhere in the body. The most common tumors in childhood and adolescence are leukemias (which affects the white blood cells), the central nervous system and lymphomas (lymph system).

Also affect children and adolescents neuroblastoma (cell tumor of the peripheral nervous system, often abdominal location), Wilms tumor (kidney tumor), retinoblastoma (affecting the retina, fundus), germ cell tumor (cells that will give rise to the ovaries or the testes), osteosarcoma (bone tumor) and sarcomas (soft tissue tumors).

As in developed countries, Brazil, cancer is now the leading cause of death by disease among children and adolescents aged 1 to 19 years, for all regions.

In the last four decades, the progress in cancer treatment in childhood and adolescence was extremely significant. Today, around 70% of children and adolescents with cancer can be cured if diagnosed early and treated in specialized centers. Most of them have good quality of life after treatment.
Treatment
Unlike adult cancer, juvenile cancer usually affects the cells of the blood system and supporting tissues. By nature they are predominantly embryonic tumors in children and adolescents are composed of undifferentiated cells, which generally provides better response to current treatments.

Cancer treatment begins with proper diagnosis. For that, you need a reliable laboratory and imaging studies. Due to its complexity, the treatment should be done in a specialized center. It comprises three main modes (chemotherapy, surgery and radiation) being applied rationally and individualized to each specific tumor and in accordance with the extent of disease.

The coordinated work of various specialists (oncologists pediatricians, pediatric surgeons, radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, nurses, social workers, psychologists, nutritionists, pharmacists) is also crucial for successful treatment.

As important as the cancer treatment itself, is the attention given to the social aspects of the disease, since the child and adolescent patients should receive comprehensive care in their family context. The cure should not rely solely on biological recovery, but also the well-being and quality of life of patients.

In this sense, should not miss the patient and his family, from the beginning of treatment, the required psycho-social support.
Prevention
In tumors of childhood and adolescence, yet, there is no scientific evidence to make clear the association between disease and environmental factors. Therefore, prevention is a challenge for the future. The current emphasis should be given to early diagnosis and therapeutic quality.