Every Three Minutes, A Child Is Diagnosed With Cancer In The World

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Statistics show that childhood cancers account for 2% of all cancers. Although cancers in children under the age of 15 falls into this group by definition, half of the patients are diagnosed under the age of 5. Reminding that a child is diagnosed with cancer every 3 minutes in the world, Yeditepe University Koşuyolu Hospital Pediatric Oncology Specialist Dr. Asım Yörük reminded us that the cause could not be identified in 80-90 percent of childhood cancers. The good news is that children respond much better to treatment. Spec. Dr. Asım Yörük: “However, childhood cancers are more aggressive than adult cancers and can be diagnosed at a late stage because they grow faster. At this point, it is important to notice the symptoms of the disease in advance and take precautions.”

There Has Been a Steady Increase In The Last 20 Years

Although it varies according to age and cancer type, the incidence of pediatric cancers has increased regularly but at small rates every year since 1980, Yeditepe University Kosuyolu Hospital Pediatric Oncology Specialist Dr. Asım Yörük pointed out that the incidence of neuroblastoma (adrenal cancer) and hepatoblastoma (liver cancer) increased in children under 5 years of age, especially in leukemias, some brain tumors. The reason for this increase was the exposure to environmental factors such as chemicals, radiation, and viruses and the combination of this exposure with genetic factors. According to the information given by Dr. Asım Yörük, the most common cancers in children are as follows; Leukemias 31 percent, brain and spinal cord tumors 26 percent, lymphomas 10 percent, soft tissue sarcomas 7 percent, neuroblastoma 6 percent, Wilms’ tumor 5 percent, bone tumors 4 percent, germ cell tumors 3 percent, retinoblastoma 3 percent, liver tumors 2 percent and other 3 percent.

No Symptoms Are Cancer-Specific

Considering all childhood cancers, the rate of recovery varies according to the type of cancer and its spread, but it is around 65 percent. Dr. Asım Yörük pointed out that none of the childhood cancer symptoms are specific to cancer and can be caused by various reasons. However, any symptom that does not respond to adequate treatment and lasts longer than 2-3 weeks and whose cause cannot be determined should raise the suspicion of a malignant tumor.” Yeditepe University Hospital Pediatric Oncology Specialist Dr. Asım Yörük listed the symptoms to be considered in children: Continued, unexplained weight loss, usually in the morning, headache with vomiting, swelling or persistent pain in the bones, joints, back or legs that does not go away, especially in the abdomen, neck, chest, pelvis or armpits, bruises, bleeding or rash in the body, infections that do not heal, the whitish color behind the pupil, vomiting without ongoing nausea, constant fatigue, sudden and ongoing eye or visual disturbances, recurrent or continuous fever of undetermined cause. Some symptoms that are considered a sign of danger are more specific, but it is still hard to diagnose cancer. These include enlarged lymph nodes greater than 2 centimeters (especially in the hard, non-sensitive, fixed, or supraclavicular region), morning vomiting (especially if associated with headache or other neurological symptoms), sudden visual disturbances, night sweats with fever or persistent fever with pallor. ”