CANCER IN CHILDREN: RECOGNIZING EARLY SYMPTOMS
CANCER IN CHILDREN: RECOGNIZING EARLY SYMPTOMS
Cancer is one of the health problems in the world, including in Indonesia, which can occur in adults and children.
The World Health Organization (WHO) through the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) estimates that there are 8,677 Indonesian children aged 0-14 years suffering from cancer in 2020. This number is the largest compared to other countries in Southeast Asia. Leukemia is the most common type of cancer in children. In fact, one third of cancer cases in children in Indonesia are leukemia.
Cancer is a disease that occurs due to the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells, causing normal body tissues to be damaged. One of the suspected causes of cancer is aberration of cell growth due to chromos/gene defects.
Risk factors for leukemia
A. Genetic factors
- Genetic disorders / syndromes
- Immune system disorders / Hereditary
- Twin brother with Leukemia
- B. Environmental factors
- Radiation exposure
- Chemical exposure
- Decreased immune system
Types of cancer in children.
Most cancers that occur in children are leukemia / blood cancer. In addition there are solid tumors in children include:
- Retinoblastoma
- Malignant lymphoma
- Wilms tumor
- Neuroblastoma
- Rhabdomyosarcoma
- Osteosarcoma
- Germ cell tumors
Signs and symptoms of cancer in children
Symptoms of cancer in children are generally not typical, but parents should be alert if there are the following complaints in children:
- Fever comes and goes and pain
- Blue-blue on the feet
- Fluid from the ear and swelling
- The lump on the neck swells up fast
- White spots of the eyes
- Enlarged belly
- Weight loss
- Pale for no reason
Can cancer be cured??
Can be cured, especially if recognized or found early (early stage)
Treatment or treatment depends on the type of tumor and its stage.
Treatment: a combination of surgery (removing the tumor), chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
The important thing that also needs to be considered is supportive treatment such as blood transfusions, antibiotics, isolation wards, and good nutrition patterns.
The success of cancer treatment in children depends on how quickly the stage of cancer is diagnosed
Early stage
- Difficult diagnosis
- Fast and precise treatment
- High cure rate
Advanced stage
- Diagnosis is (relatively) easy
- Despite immediate treatment
Another thing that needs to be considered is the role of the family starting from the strong ties between the nuclear family and extended family as well as a more approach to sick children and all brothers or sisters.
When to go to the doctor....?
If Friends of Hermina have the problems described above, you should consult a Pediatrician, sub-specialist hemato oncology, medical dr. Endang Windiastuti, Sp. A (K) at Hermina Hospital Bekasi