Bone cancer
The clues
are pain and swelling usually in the knees or upper arms, ribs, pelvis. These
areas are more prone to fracture. Unlike adults, children’s bone cancers are
usually primary and hit between the ages of 10 to 20. There are two kinds -
Ewing’s sarcoma and OsteosdIcolIld.
Unlike adults, children’s bone cancers are
usually primary and hit between the ages of 10 to 20.
Vinay
(11) was found to have difficulty in walking, pain and swelling just above his
left knee joint, and fever. A biopsy taken from the leg swelling showed up as
high grade osteosarcoma. A CT Scan of the chest and MRI of the leg identified
the extent of the malignancy. Chemotherapy was started and after two cycles
when the pain subsided he underwent salvage surgery of the leg. Says Dr. Bhansal: This means that instead of amputating it, as was
done in the past, the tumour was excised and a
customized prosthesis was inserted. After this Vinay underwent chemotherapy for nine months. Fever
and low blood counts between sessions were treated.
Vinay now
plays football happily, but has to take a blood test and chest X-ray every six
months.
Brain cancer
Medullablastoma accounts for 25% of childhood brain tumours.
Cues are a
persistent worsening headache, morning vomiting (frequently without nausea),
lethargy, irritability, blurred vision, dizziness, stiff neck, unsteady gait,
seizures.
Medullablastoma accounts for 25% of childhood brain
tumours
The disease
is confirmed by a CT or MRI.
A
combination of surgery, radiation and chemo can result in complete recovery.
Hodgkins
disease (Cancer of the Lymph Glands)
Lymphomas
are cancers of an ingredient in the White Blood Cells which reside in the
lymphatic system and blood forming agents, and are duty bound to fight
infection.
It rarely
occurs before the age of 10, for teenagers are more prone.
It rarely occurs before the age of 10, for
teenagers are more prone.
Red signals
are painless and persistent swelling in the neck (which become painful when the
child has a cold or a fever), swelling in shoulder and armpits, fever,
lethargy, gradual weight loss, fatigue, night sweats, itching, breathing
difficulty, an excessive cough.
A CT Scan
and biopsy can confirm the suspicion. An ultrasound checks for nodes in the
chest or abdomen.
Radiation
or chemo or both can completely cure the child in 90% cases. When 12 -year -
old Aditi was shown to Dr. Bansal,
she had a swelling in the left lower neck, loss of appetite and a weight loss
of 2 kilos, all in one month. A biopsy of her neck revealed Hodgkin’s
Lymphoma.
A full body
PET CT scan ascertained the extent and stage of the disease. Luckily, she had
been brought in without delay and the disease had not spread. It was classified
as Stage Il (cervical and armpit node involvement). She was administered chemo
every 15 days, and attended school between cycles for six months. She is now
totally disease free and is planning a career in medicine, no less.
Neuroblastoma
(Cancer of the Nervous System)
It develops
in certain nerve tissues in the abdomen, chest, adrenal glands (above the
kidneys), rarely, in the brain.
It is the
most common cancer in infants and children below 5, and one of the most common tumours in children of any age. They sometimes run in
families.
It is the most common cancer in infants and
children below 5, and one of the most common tumours
in children of any age.
The
symptoms depend on the origin and spread. For example, abdomen originators
manifest in a bulky tummy, a sensation of fullness, pain. Coughs or breathing
difficulty come from the chest. Invasion of bones means pain, a reduced red
blood cell count creates weakness; less platelets causes bruising, low WBC reduces resistance to infection. It can spread to
the skin to trigger lumps, or the spinal cord which weakens arms and legs. Ninety percent produce and hormone epinephrine which can increase
the heart rate and cause anxiety.
Diagnosis
is by ultrasound, CT, MRI. A urine test shows excessive hormones. Children
below one have an excellent prognosis. If the cancer has not spread it can be
removed by surgery. Chemo and radiation may be used.
