What should I know about childhood cancer? |
Teach.Learn.Connect Overview
This website has been created for educators. It is intended to help provide an improved school and learning experience for students who have or who have had cancer, which in turn will help lead them to a productive and rewarding life. For the child or adolescent with cancer, it is crucial to maintain normal life experiences as much as possible. Since school is the major "normal" activity of children and teens, educators need to make every effort to continue the school experience as soon as cancer is diagnosed and throughout the illness and treatment experience.
Childhood Cancer...the Facts
What is cancer?
Cancer develops when cells in your body begin to grow out of control. Normal cells grow, divide, and die naturally. Instead of dying, cancer cells continue to grow and form new abnormal cells. Sometimes these cells form a lump called a tumour. Cancer cells often travel to other body parts where they grow and replace normal tissue. This process is called metastasis.
DNA is in every cell and directs all its activities. Cancer cells develop because of damage to DNA. In cancer cells, the damage is not repaired. People can inherit damaged DNA, which accounts for inherited cancers. Known causes of adult cancers include environmental, occupational and lifestyle factors, such as diet, alcohol, and smoking. Most childhood cancers have no known cause.
Childhood Cancers are Unique
The types of cancers that occur in children vary greatly from those seen in adults. They tend to occur in different parts of the body; they look different under the microscope, and they respond differently to treatment. Cure rates for children are much higher than for most adult cancers. Because of significant advances in therapy, 82% of children with cancer will survive 5 years or more. Aggressive treatment can sometimes lead to learning disabilities.
Leukemias, brain and other nervous system tumours, lymphomas (lymph node cancers), bone cancers, soft tissue sarcomas, kidney cancers, eye cancers, and adrenal gland cancers are the most common cancers in children. Skin, prostate, breast, lung, and colorectal cancers are the most common in adults.
Facts and Figures
There are about 10 000 children living with cancer in Canada today.
Each year, about 1500 new cases of childhood cancer are diagnosed.
There are over 40 different types of childhood cancer.
One in 400 children will be diagnosed with cancer before their 19th birthday.
In Canada, childhood cancer is rare, but remains responsible for more deaths from age one through adolescence than any other disease. In relative terms, more deaths are from cancer than asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and AIDS combined.
About one in 5 children who are diagnosed with cancer will die of the disease.
With a mortality rate of close to 20%, Canada loses tens of thousands of years of potential life each year to childhood cancer.
Leukemia
Leukemia is a cancer of the blood cells produced in the bone marrow. It is the most common childhood cancer, accounting for 26% of all childhood cancers. (More information)
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a tumour of the lymph tissues (cells of the immune system). Because lymph tissue is in many parts of the body (lymph nodes, skin, stomach, intestines, and other organs), lymphomas can start almost anywhere. (More information)
Sarcomas
Cancerous tumours involving the bones and soft tissues (e.g. muscles, tendons, fat). Below is a listing of bone and soft tissue sarcomas. (More information)
Cancers of the Central Nervous System
Tumours arising in the central nervous system, i.e., brain tumours and tumours of the spinal cord. (More information)
Liver Cancers
Involve an abnormal growth (tumour) in the liver, also called hepatoma. (More information)
Cancers of the Kidney (Renal)
(More information)
Other Types of Cancers
(More information)
Data from Canadian Cancer Society Report on Cancer in Children and Youth Ages 0–19, 2008
Statistics Canada research (2007) found that the predicted five-year survival rate for children and adolescents who are diagnosed with cancer has risen to 82%. That is 11% higher than the rate measured in a previous national study (1985 to 1988). This means that 4 out of every 5 children diagnosed with cancer will survive their journey. Individual cancer rates vary depending on the type of cancer and the extent of the disease at diagnosis.
While many children with cancer now have the opportunity for cure, a significant proportion of survivors experience life-long side effects from the cancer or treatment.
Researchers say that the goal of 100% cure for all children, with reduced long-term effects from the toxic treatments, is a possibility in our lifetime.
Data from Canadian Cancer Society Report on Cancer in Children and Youth Ages 0–19, 2008
Children with cancer initially present with various symptoms, which are dependent on the type of cancer.
Children may present with:
How is cancer detected?
Several tests are used to diagnose and monitor children with cancer including: blood test, x-ray/CT scan/MRI scan, lumbar puncture, bone marrow aspirate, and biopsy.
Can educators help with diagnosis or recognize symptoms?
Most educators indicate having no direct role in the diagnosis. Most educators report working with the student and family after diagnosis, either during treatment or afterwards.
Those who noticed changes in a student's behaviour or health shared their concerns with the child's family. For example they observed a student who:
Also see: How is childhood cancer treated?