Did you know that cancer is one of
the leading causes of non-accidental death of children worldwide? The loss of a child to cancer is one of the
worst tragedies a family can face. It is a
devastating reality; in Canada there are approximately 10,000 children living
with cancer. The cause for childhood cancer is unknown; unlike some adult cancers that can be linked to lifestyle choices. The most common cancers in children are:
§ Leukemia
§ Brain and other nervous system tumors
§ Lymphomas (lymph node cancers)
§ Bone cancers
§ Soft tissue sarcomas
§ Kidney cancers
§ Eye cancers
§ Adrenal gland cancer
Leukemia is the most commonly
diagnosed cancer in children, encompassing approximately 30 per cent of total
new diagnoses each year. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is currently the
most common form and comprises about 75 per cent of leukemia cases in children.
Approximately 1,500 Canadian children are diagnosed with
cancer each year and about 210 Canadian children will die from the disease. However,
since the 1950’s mortality rates for the disease have declined by more than 50
per cent. Today, about 80 per cent of Canadian children with cancer will
survive. Childhood cancers have nearly
a 75 per cent cure rate; leukemia leading the success charge with close to 90
per cent overall cure rate in children.
More than 70 per cent of
children diagnosed with cancer become long-term survivors and a majority of
them will be considered cured. However, long-term effects of surviving childhood
cancer treatments will continue affect their futures. Late
effects in childhood cancer survivors may affect the following:
§ Growth
and development.
§ Mood,
feelings, and actions.
§ Thinking,
learning, and memory.
§ Social
and physiological adjustment.
To continue learning about childhood cancers you can visit:
- http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Sites-Types/childhood
- http://www.kidscancercare.ab.ca/facts_about_childhood_cancer.htm
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