International Childhood Cancer Day: February 15
The International Day of Childhood Cancer was created in order to raise awareness in the general population about the magnitude that this problem represents for public health and for the people involved.
The fact that a child receives a cancer diagnosis means a before and after in the life of all the members of the family. Therefore, ensuring timely support is essential to obtain the best chance of success. Next, you will find a short article about the importance of this day and some generalities of this group of pathologies. Keep reading!
International Childhood Cancer Day
The history of this day dates back to 2001, when groups from various countries met in Luxembourg to form the International Organization for Childhood Cancer (ICC). Some of the fundamental objectives are the following:
- Provide support for hundreds of thousands of families going through the difficult process of a family cancer diagnosis.
- Promote healthy habits and reduce risk factors for childhood cancer.
- Raise awareness about early diagnosis and timely treatment.
- Highlight the deficiencies in health care in developing countries.
For this reason, that same year the creation of the International Day of Childhood Cancer was agreed, whose date of celebration would be February 15 of each year. This has been done since then and constitutes an advance in public health promotion.
What is the prevalence of childhood cancer?
According to estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO), each year about 300,000 cases of childhood cancer are diagnosed worldwide. The data vary greatly according to the region, since many developing countries lack some diagnostic elements and epidemiological records.
In the case of Europe, data collected by the Automated Childhood Cancer Information System (ASIC) demonstrated a considerable increase in the incidence of various forms of the disease in recent years.
Main types of cancer in children
The distribution of malignant tumors in childhood is different from that in adults. The most frequent diseases within this group are the following:
- Leukemia: is a type of cancer that affects blood cells, especially those that are part of the immune system. These can grow out of control within the bones (bone marrow) and spread to other tissues.
- Lymphoma: it is similar to the previous case, although it can form solid masses in organs as varied as the intestine, brain and lungs.
- Neuroblastoma: this tumor arises from embryonic cells that give rise to neurons, and its appearance is frequent in the adrenal glands. It usually has a poor prognosis due to the difficulty in diagnosing it early.
- Wilms tumor: it is the most common type of cancer in the kidneys of children. Due to its characteristics, surgical treatment tends to be a valid option.
There are many other malignant tumors in this age group, including rhabdomyosarcoma, testicular cancer, and thyroid cancer.
Risk factors in childhood cancer
Unlike tumors in adults, there are not many known risk factors for developing cancer in children. Genetic factors, exposure to radiation, infection with some types of viruses (such as Epstein-Barr or hepatitis B) and exposure to some substances during pregnancy (diethylstilbestrol) are some of them.
Importance of early diagnosis
Did you know that the fatal outcome of many diseases could be prevented with a few simple steps? Of course, it is an issue that depends a lot on the quality of medical care and the resources available. In any case, early diagnosis saves lives.
The same thing that happens with an annual gynecological evaluation to prevent breast or cervical cancer in adult women, happens in children. Periodic comprehensive evaluation by a pediatrician is important not only for checking height and weight growth, but also for cancer prevention.
A timely medical consultation would serve to diagnose, for example, a Wilms tumor in full development or the elevation of the blood cells that characterize leukemia. This can happen even before children start to develop symptoms.
Available treatments
You have likely heard about many cancer therapies available. The truth is that the options are growing every year at a rapid rate and have replaced many old methods and drugs.
Radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgical interventions
The medical treatments in this group (radio and chemotherapy) are the most conventional, despite the fact that the frequency of adverse effects is usually high. Together with surgical interventions, they allow the elimination of cancer cells in a difficult process that can last several months.
Not all patients require these treatments, as it depends on the type of tumor and the clinical context. However, options available in developing countries are often limited to this group, due to the high cost of modern therapies.
Bone marrow transplant, immunotherapy and others
Each year, the efforts of researchers around the world enable the creation and advancement of new cancer therapies. This is the case of bone marrow transplantation and immunotherapy, whose creators received the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 1990 and 2018, respectively.
In recent years, the rise of gene editing thanks to technologies such as CRISPR has launched numerous therapies for the treatment of cancer, especially blood tumors. Those responsible for discovering and developing this technique also received the same award in 2020.
Importance of psychological and clinical monitoring
One of the objectives of the International Day of Childhood Cancer is to raise awareness about the magnitude of the problem. Not only is it a hard diagnosis from the physical point of view, but it can also cause serious psychological consequences in patients.
The severe pain, the financial problems, the large number of visits to the hospital and the bad news are aspects that can be difficult for children to assimilate. Psychosocial care in these cases is vital and can be provided by mental health professionals, such as psychologists and psychiatrists.
As far as possible, if the treating physician is empathetic, the relationship with the patient and family will be much more enjoyable. Children will develop less rejection of inquiries, and parents will feel in the right hands. A good doctor-patient relationship is vital in this regard.
Some tips to cope with your child’s cancer diagnosis
Although each case is particular, it is convenient to take into account some aspects that can make the path more bearable. Let’s see in detail.
- Despite the physical and emotional pain, it is important to ensure a healthy family environment. Less exposure to conflict can greatly improve children’s moods.
- You don’t need to talk about it more than you need to, especially when it comes to teenagers. It is preferable to invest the time in activities that provide happiness while complying with medical indications.
- Seeking psychological help and support in civil organizations is essential. Sharing personal experiences of success fosters an atmosphere of hope at home.
- Do not look for an excess of information on the internet. Sometimes technical terms can confuse and worry parents. The most important doubts must be clarified with the attending physician.
A day to remember
There are simple and effective ways to commemorate International Childhood Cancer Day. One of them is to share with loved ones information about the importance of these pathologies and the need to go to preventive medical consultations. In this kind of thing, a small grain of sand has the power to make a difference.
