Cancer In Children

Cancer or malignant tumor is uncontrolled growth of cells or tissue, continues to grow and increase, can infiltrate surrounding tissue and form offspring. Cancer can attack anyone, including children. Every year more than 300,000 children under the age of 18 are diagnosed with cancer worldwide. And data from Childhood Cancer International (CCI) says that 80% of these children live in developing countries, including Indonesia, with a survival rate of only 20%. By 2030, WHO has set a target for the survival rate of children with cancer to reach 60%. Therefore, every February 15 is celebrated as World Childhood Cancer Day with the aim of supporting children with cancer throughout the world.

Types of Cancer in Children

Cancer in adults is generally caused by various factors, such as certain diseases, unhealthy lifestyles, and environmental factors, but cancer in children is generally caused by genetic disorders or hereditary factors. And most cases of cancer in children are only detected when they have entered the final or advanced stage because children sometimes find it difficult to convey their complaints. In fact, the chance of recovery will be higher if cancer can be detected early and receive good treatment early on.

One of the reasons why cancer in children is often detected too late is because parents lack information and knowledge about cancer in children. Therefore, parents need to know the types of cancer that often occur in children and their symptoms. The following are several types of cancer that often attack children:

1. Leukemia is a malignancy of blood cells originating from the bone marrow. This bone marrow is located inside the bones and produces red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. The most common types of leukemia in children are acute lymphocytic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia.
2. Symptoms of leukemia include pale, weak, fussy children, decreased appetite; fever for no apparent reason; enlargement of the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes; seizures to loss of consciousness; skin bleeding and/or spontaneous bleeding; bone pain characterized by the child not wanting to stand or walk and being more comfortable being held; enlargement of the testicles with a hard consistency.
3. Retinoblastoma is a primary malignant tumor of the eye that is often found in children under 5 years of age. One of the early and typical symptoms of retinoblastoma is the appearance of "cat's eye", which is a condition when a child's pupils appear shiny white when their eyes are exposed to light. Other symptoms include crossed eyes, redness, enlargement of the eyeball, inflammation of the eyeball tissue, and blurry vision.
4. Osteosarcoma or bone cancer is a malignancy that arises in the bones. Symptoms that arise include bone pain at night or after activity; swelling, redness and warmth in the area of bone pain; bone fractures after routine activities; limited bone movement; persistent pain in the back; fever, fatigue, weight loss, and pallor.
5. Malignant lymphoma or lymph node cancer is a primary malignancy of solid lymph tissue. Symptoms to watch out for include swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, groin, and without pain; shortness of breath, blockage of the digestive tract, fever, night sweats, weakness, lethargy, decreased appetite, weight loss.
6. Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma is a malignant tumor in the area between the nose and throat. Early symptoms to watch out for are snot mixed with blood, runny nose and thick saliva, blocked nose, nosebleeds, deafness in one ear, ringing in the ears, ear pain, feeling of fullness in the ears.
7. Neuroblastoma is a cancer of nerve tissue that often attacks children under 5 years of age, especially boys. This cancer can spread quickly to other organs, such as lymph nodes, bones, bone marrow, liver and skin. Symptoms can vary depending on the part of the body affected, including bleeding around the eyes and bulging eyes; bone pain; stomach feels full and diarrhea; drooping lid of one side of the eye, pupil contraction, dry eyes, swelling in the neck; headaches, bladder and bowel dysfunction, even paralysis.
8. Brain cancer. Symptoms of brain cancer in children can vary, depending on the size, location and level of development of cancer cells or the stage of cancer. Symptoms of brain cancer that often occur in children include recurring headaches, nausea and vomiting, blurred vision, dizziness, seizures, and weakness or paralysis in the body's limbs.

Wilms' Tumor or Nephroblastoma is a type of kidney cancer that quite often attacks children aged 3-4 years. Some of the symptoms of Wilms' tumor are pain and swelling in the stomach, fever, nausea and vomiting, decreased appetite, shortness of breath, and blood in the urine.

SMART Behavior

The cause of cancer in children is still not known for certain. However, it is suspected that there is an interaction of four factors, namely genetics, chemicals, viruses and radiation. Currently, not all types of cancer in children have methods for early detection, besides that, cancer in children cannot be prevented. However, it is good for parents to teach SMART behavior to their children from childhood to avoid various types of cancer that arise in adulthood. SMART behavior, namely:

• Regular health checks;
• Get rid of cigarette smoke by avoiding exposure to cigarette smoke;
• Diligent physical activity;
• Healthy and balanced diet;
• Get enough rest;
• Manage stress.

If you see symptoms in your baby and suspect they are symptoms of cancer, then immediately consult a doctor at a health facility or have an online consultation via telemedicine, because early treatment will bring a better chance of recovery.