A very difficult subject for parents, family members and caregivers to discuss is cancer in young children.  Because September is Pediatric Cancer awareness month, childsafetyblog.org would like to take this opportunity to draw attention to some general facts about childhood cancer and the difficult challenge childhood cancer poses for parents and family members of young children as well as for the children with cancer, themselves.  Here are a few facts presented by the National Cancer Institute, Washington, D.C (http://www.cancer.gov):

1.         "Among the 12 major types of childhood cancers, leukemias (blood cell cancers) and cancers of the brain and central nervous system account for more than half of new cases."

2.         According to NCI, studies show that in the United States in 2007, "approximately 10,400 children under age 15 were diagnosed with cancer and about 1,545 children will die from the disease."  This makes childhood cancer(s) one of the leading cause of non-accidental death in children ages 1-14.

3.         During "the past 20 years, there has been an increase in the incidence of children diagnosed with all forms of invasive cancer, from 11.5 cases per 100,000 children in 1975 to 14.8 per 100,000 children in 2004."  There is good news, however; "during the same period, death rates declined dramatically and 5-year survival rates increased for most childhood cancers."

4.         What is startling, however, is that the "causes of childhood cancers remain largely unknown." Some conditions in children may represent a pre-condition to cancer, such as Down's Syndrome.  And NCI says: "Environmental causes of childhood cancer have long been suspected by many scientists" but are "difficult to pin down, partly because cancer in children is rare and because it is difficult to identify past exposure levels in children, particularly during potentially important periods such as pregnancy or even prior to conception."  There are studies which have closely examined risk factors, such as fetal alcohol syndrome and childhood exposures to environmental toxins and radiation.

NCI also points out there is a tremendous amount of effort ongoing in the scientific research community on childhood cancer(s).  And while this is encouraging, parents need to learn what to do for their child beyond providing supportive care.  Childhood cancers are different than cancer in adults--and childhood cancers are treated differently, often involving higher doses of chemotherapy and radiation than in adult cancer(s).   NCI offers that most children with cancer can be cured, but there may be "unwanted side effects" to treatments offered.  NCI recommends, early treatment of cancer symptoms and the side effects of various therapies to help patients feel better, stay stronger, and simply adjust to life following cancer.   

Cancer in children presents multi-faceted problems, including legal ones, as young children (under the age of 18) in most states do not have the right to make decisions about their treatment, so decisions will be made by parents and legal guardians. Decisions about treatment can be very difficult and parents and guardians require as much information as possible to make good decisions for their children. 

The good news is there are resources nationally such as the National Cancer Institute (http://www.cancer.gov) and in local communities to help. The first line of information for parents is your child's pediatrician and the specialists to whom parents are referred for diagnosis.  Organizations active in local communities, such as the American Cancer Society, American Children's Cancer Association, Association for the Support of Children with Cancer (ASK) and the National Childhood Cancer Foundation can also be helpful to parents and family members of children with cancer.                                        ##

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With gratitude to the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20204