In what ways is childhood cancer different to deal with than adult cancers?
• Incidence: very rare-1% of all cases • Sites: blood, brain, muscles, bone • Cause: not known • Prevention: minimal • Early Detection: minimal • Prognosis: greater than 75% survival Adults • Incidence: very common-99% of all cases • Sites: lungs, breast, colon, skin • Cause: environmental exposures, life style factors, e.g. smoking • Prevention: 80% preventable • Early Detection: screenings, e.g pap smears • Prognosis: less than 60% survival Are there strategies to help prevent childhood cancer as there are for some adult cancers? Parents should see that their children have regular medical checkups and should be alert to any unusual signs or symptoms that persist. What are some of the symptoms of childhood cancer? Cancers in children often are difficult to recognize. Parents should see that their children have regular medical checkups and should be alert to any unusual signs or symptoms that persist. These include an unusual mass or swelling; unexplained paleness and loss of energy; s
