Lecture 17 Childhood cancers Childhood vs Adult cancers Incidence prevalence cancer in adults is common 1 in 3 but it s extremely rare for children to have cancer 1 in 600 Causation most childhood cancers have no clear causation Survivability childhood cancer is much more curable 2 3 children survive and live healthy lives Most common types of childhood cancers Leukemia acute lymphoblastic leukemia 20 25 of childhood cancers uncontrolled growth of white blood cells that would normally become B and T cells and starts in bone marrow acute myeleogenic leukemia only 5 uncontrolled growth of white blood cells that normally would become macrophages and granulocytes starts in bone marrow Brain often in lower parts of the brain like the cerebellum and brain stem 20 of childhood cancers and most common solid tumor Primary brain cancer rarely spreads Metastatic advanced disease Lymphoma uncontrolled growth of B and T cells in lymph tissue hodgkins more common young adults large abnormal B cells non hodgkins younger children aggressive ASAP treatment Neuroblastoma most common solid cancer occurring outside of the brain in childhood cancer of nerve tissue associated with sympathetic nervous system adrenals and stomach Wilms tumor nephroblastoma kidney cancer swollen belly prognosis largely depends on microscopic characteristic of cells especially nuclear shape and size Rhabdomyosarcoma arises from skeletal muscle precursors most common soft tissue cancer sarcoma and occur anywhere in body Bone cancer more common among teens osteosarcoma teens where rapid growth occurs painful ewing sarcoma young teens painful hip and chest wall Retinoblastoma Uncommon tumor of childhood that accounts for 3 of cancers in children 87 of children die mostly in developing countries Possible causes of childhood cancer in an ionizing radiation environment high dose radiation exposure viral infections might be involved in certain non Hodgkin s lymphomas and leukemia maternal use of alcohol during pregnancy associated with a 2 6 fold increased risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia Pregnant ladies may not want to eat predatory fish mercury lick or remediate surfaces painted with lead paint drink well water with high levels of arsenic eat or work with pesticides work with or around solvents ex paint thinners smoke clean ovens with oven cleaners Common cancers Among ages 0 14 Leukemia 26 Brain CNS 21 Neuroblastoma 7 NH Lymphoma 6 Among ages 15 19 Hodgkin lymphoma 15 Thyroid carcinoma 11 Brain CNS 10 Typical treatments Childhood cancers rarely have a tried and true set of treatments Surgery chemotherapy radiation Leukemia bone marrow transplant post chemotherapy Immunotherapy Treatment efficacy has improved but lots of side effects like secondary cancers heart and lung damage infertility alternations in growth and development etc 2 3rds of survivors experience at least one of these side effects CART T cell therapy How does childhood cancer affect the family Traumatized did their actions play a role in the cancer Devastating challenge Other siblings neglected Might be chronically worried about their own health that they will too develop cancer Siblings traumatized at thought that their sibling might die
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