The real cause of childhood cancer is not yet known. Many parents wonder about the cause to their child's cancer. They may fear that something they did or did not do caused the disease.
Scientists and researchers are yet to discover the cause behind childhood cancers. Many contributors are suspected, these include genetic predisposition, exposure to certain toxins or chemicals, prolonged exposure to the sun's UV rays, and radiation.
In Zimbabwe the most common cancers in children are:
Wilms tumour
Retinoblastoma
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
Leukemia
Statistics
A total of 293 paediatric cancers (age 0-14) of all races were registered in 2018. These comprised 176 (60.0%) boys and 117 (40.0%) girls. Paediatric cancers accounted for 3.7% of all the cancers recorded in 2018.
The most common paediatric cancers of all races recorded in 2018 according to the International Classification of Childhood Cancer (ICCC) were as follows: leukaemia (18%), renal tumours (17%), retinoblastoma (15%), lymphoma (13%), soft tissue (11%), central
nervous system (8%), bone tumours (6%) and neuroblastomo (3%). Other unspecified malignant tumours accounted for 9% on the childhood cancers.
Is Childhood cancer curable?
More than 70% of childhood cancers are curable with best modern therapy. However, treatment is expensive for third world countries as cancer is a leading cause of death for children and adolescents worldwide. In high-income countries, more than 80% of children with cancer are cured, but in many Low to Medium Income countries (LMICs) only 20% are cured.
The causes of childhood cancer are beginning to emerge. The origin for many is probably in utero and may be initiated by dietary and other environmental exposures perhaps in susceptible individuals. However, one of the great challenges for the future must be to extend the benefits of modern treatment to the 80% of the world's children who currently have little or no access to it in economically disadvantaged and emerging nations. The International Paediatric Oncology Society (SIOP) is leading the way in bringing hope for children with cancer worldwide.
Symptoms
The following signs and symptoms are suggestive of childhood cancer. The earlier your child gets a diagnosis, the better the treatment outcome and the higher the chances for survival.
Enlarged head
An unusual lump or swelling on the body Swelling (Unusual swelling or abnormal mass)
Listlessness (A high temperature that won't subside, sudden weight loss, poor appetite)
Pallor-Unexplained paleness and loss of energy.
Changes in the eye or vision (White spot In the pupil, sudden squinting, bulging eyeball, blindness)
Unexplained bruising or bleeding (Persistent bleeding or development of purple marks indicating bleeding underneath the skin)
Difficulty balancing when walking.
Frequent Headaches (Often with early morning vomiting)
Personality changes (behavior or development)
Aching bones (especially the long bones, Joints or back, or fractures that happen easily)
An ongoing pain in one area of the body.
Limping.
Unexplained fever or illness that doesn't go away.
Treatment
The type of treatment that a child with cancer receives will depend on the type of cancer and how advanced it is.
Common treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy immunotherapy and stem cell transplant.
Surgery is removal of the cancer mass and then doctors are likely to recommend chemotherapy and or radiation therapy as a combination or chemotherapy alone.
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells. Childhood cancers tend to be more sensitive to chemotherapy drugs than adult cancer cells and thus children tolerate chemotherapy better than adults.
Lets all unite in the fight against cancer and support those affected by this devastating disease.
Your donation will directly fund:
1. Essential support services for patients and families.
2. Life-changing research and treatment programs.
3. Awareness & Community Outreach programs
TCZ endeavors to address the present need for increasing health literacy with
respect to cancer in order to effect behaviour change and promote healthy lifestyle and well being of our people.
