Childhood Cancer

Childhood cancers are uncommon, accounting for only 0.5% of all cancers in the UK. Approximately, 1500 children are diagnosed with cancer in the UK every year. Despite it being a rare occurrence, cancer still remains the largest cause of death in the 1–14 year age group, amongst whom it counts for 20% of all deaths. Although most adult cancers affect the lung, breast, bowel and prostate, the majority of childhood cancers are haematological and central nervous system (CNS) tumours. The primary care physician's role is vital across the disease trajectory, requiring them to recognize the signs and symptoms of childhood cancer, understand treatment, provide support to children and families, and finally consider the issues affecting survivors of childhood cancer.

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Childhood cancer in general practice: Is it really that rare?

InnovAiT Education and inspiration for general practice ◽

10.1177/1755738016689110 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 209-217

Author(s):

Jennifer Kelly

Keyword(s):

General Practice ◽

Young People ◽

Early Diagnosis ◽

Childhood Cancer ◽

Signs And Symptoms ◽

Childhood Cancers ◽

Children And Young People ◽

Number Of Children ◽

The Uk

Childhood cancer is something most GPs think to be rare, yet it is the biggest medical cause of death in children aged between 1 and 14 years. Its incidence is increasing, with just under 4000 children and young people diagnosed with cancer every year in the UK (11 a day). It is important for GPs to know the signs and symptoms suggestive of childhood cancers, in order to help early diagnosis. This, in turn, can save lives and reduce disability in survivors. The number of children surviving cancer is increasing, with over 35 000 survivors now thought to be living in the UK and in need of particular expertise and care. This article aims to provide GPs with the tools and knowledge to diagnose childhood cancer, and a framework to support children with cancer and their families long-term in the community.

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Long-term follow-up of survivors of childhood cancer in the UK

Pediatric Blood & Cancer ◽

10.1002/pbc.10482 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 42 (2) ◽

pp. 161-168 ◽

Cited By ~ 63

Author(s):

Aliki Taylor ◽

Mike Hawkins ◽

Annie Griffiths ◽

Helena Davies ◽

Carolyn Douglas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Childhood Cancer ◽

Long Term Follow Up ◽

The Uk ◽

Survivors Of Childhood Cancer

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The Epidemiology of Cancer in Children and Adolescents

Oxford Textbook of Cancer in Children ◽

10.1093/med/9780198797210.003.0001 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Charles A. Stiller ◽

Gemma Gatta

Keyword(s):

General Population ◽

Childhood Cancer ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Second Primary ◽

Childhood And Adolescence ◽

Childhood Cancers ◽

Industrialized Countries ◽

Total Incidence ◽

Predisposition Genes ◽

Cns Tumours

Under 2% of all cancers in industrialized countries occur in childhood and adolescence, but they account for a much larger proportion of total population life years potentially lost to cancer. Total incidence is about 160 per million in children and 200 per million in adolescents. In children, leukaemias account for one third of all malignancies and CNS tumours for one quarter. In adolescents, lymphomas account for one quarter of cases and leukaemias, CNS tumours, and carcinomas each for about 15%. Five-year survival exceeds 80% for many childhood and some adolescent cancers. Although survival of adolescents is high overall, survival for several types of cancer is markedly lower than in children. Infants under a year of age also tend to have lower survival. Excess mortality continues beyond 25 years from diagnosis of childhood cancer. The risk of developing a second primary cancer is about six times that in the general population. The causes of most childhood cancers remain unknown. The principal established exogenous causes are ionizing radiation, ultraviolet radiation from sunlight, and certain viruses. Up to 10% of children and adolescents with cancer may have germline mutations in cancer predisposition genes. If one child in a family has cancer, then that child’s siblings have approximately double the risk of the general population for developing childhood cancer, but this could well be entirely accounted for by familial syndromes. Significantly raised or reduced risks of childhood cancers have been linked to polymorphic variants of certain genes, though many of these associations remain to be replicated.

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Pediatric Cancer: A Comprehensive Review. Part I: Biology, Epidemiology, Common Tumours, Principles of Treatment and Late Effects

Canadian Pharmacists Journal / Revue des Pharmaciens du Canada ◽

10.3821/1913-701x-143.4.176 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 143 (4) ◽

pp. 176-183 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Tamara MacDonald

Keyword(s):

Childhood Cancer ◽

Pediatric Cancer ◽

Late Effects ◽

Community Pharmacists ◽

Incidence Rates ◽

Childhood Cancers ◽

Basic Understanding ◽

Principles Of Treatment ◽

Survivors Of Childhood Cancer

The incidence rates of pediatric cancer, like adult cancer, are increasing, though to a lesser degree. Options for the treatment of childhood cancers are continually changing and improving and overall survival has increased dramatically over the last 60 years. This paper discusses the incidence and survival trends of childhood cancer. The biology and epidemiology of the most common cancers seen in children and the late effects of treatment for childhood cancer will also be discussed. A basic understanding of childhood cancer is important for both hospital and community pharmacists, since many young adults in North America are now survivors of childhood cancer and may experience long-term consequences of chemotherapy.

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Bayesian spatial modelling of childhood cancer incidence in Switzerland using exact point data: A nationwide study during 1985-2015.

10.21203/rs.2.21872/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Garyfallos Konstantinoudis ◽

Dominic Schuhmacher ◽

Roland A Ammann ◽

Tamara Diesch ◽

Claudia E Kuehni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Spatial Variation ◽

Childhood Cancer ◽

Background Radiation ◽

National Level ◽

Ambient Air ◽

Cancer Registration ◽

Childhood Cancers ◽

Air Concentration ◽

Cns Tumours

Abstract Background The aetiology of most childhood cancers is largely unknown. Spatially varying environmental factors such as traffic-related air pollution, background radiation and agricultural pesticides might contribute to the development of childhood cancer. We investigated the spatial variation of childhood cancers in Switzerland using exact geocodes of place of residence. Methods We included 5,947 children diagnosed with cancer during 1985-2015 at age 0-15 from the Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry. We modelled cancer risk using log-Gaussian Cox processes and indirect standardization to adjust for age and year of diagnosis. We examined whether the modelled spatial variation of risk can be explained by ambient air concentration of NO 2 , natural background radiation, area-based socio-economic position (SEP), linguistic region, years of existing general cancer registration in the canton or degree of urbanization. Results For all childhood cancers combined, the posterior median relative risk (RR), compared to the national level, varied by location from 0.83 to 1.13 (min to max). Corresponding ranges were 0.96 to 1.09 for leukaemia, 0.90 to 1.13 for lymphoma, and 0.82 to 1.23 for CNS tumours. The covariates considered explained 72% of the observed spatial variation for all cancers, 81% for leukaemia, 82% for lymphoma and 64% for CNS tumours. There was evidence of an association of background radiation and SEP with incidence of CNS tumours, (1.19;0.98-1.40) and (1.6;1-1.13) respectively. Conclusion Of the investigated diagnostic groups, childhood CNS tumours show the largest spatial variation in Switzerland. The selected covariates only partially explained the observed variation of CNS tumours suggesting that other environmental factors also play a role.

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Bayesian spatial modelling of childhood cancer incidence in Switzerland using exact point data: A nationwide study during 1985-2015

10.1101/19001545 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Garyfallos Konstantinoudis ◽

Dominic Schuhmacher ◽

Roland A Ammann ◽

Tamara Diesch ◽

Claudia E Kuehni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Spatial Variation ◽

Childhood Cancer ◽

Background Radiation ◽

National Level ◽

Ambient Air ◽

Cancer Registration ◽

Childhood Cancers ◽

Air Concentration ◽

Cns Tumours

AbstractBackgroundThe aetiology of most childhood cancers is largely unknown. Spatially varying environmental factors such as traffic-related air pollution, background radiation and agricultural pesticides might contribute to the development of childhood cancer. We investigated the spatial variation of childhood cancers in Switzerland using exact geocodes of place of residence.MethodsWe included 5,947 children diagnosed with cancer during 1985-2015 at age 0-15 from the Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry. We modelled cancer risk using log-Gaussian Cox processes and indirect standardization to adjust for age and year of diagnosis. We examined whether the modelled spatial variation of risk can be explained by ambient air concentration of NO2, natural background radiation, area-based socio-economic position (SEP), linguistic region, years of existing general cancer registration in the canton or degree of urbanization.ResultsFor all childhood cancers combined, the posterior median relative risk (RR), compared to the national level, varied by location from 0.83 to 1.13 (min to max). Corresponding ranges were 0.96 to 1.09 for leukaemia, 0.90 to 1.13 for lymphoma, and 0.82 to 1.23 for CNS tumours. The covariates considered explained 72% of the observed spatial variation for all cancers, 81% for leukaemia, 82% for lymphoma and 64% for CNS tumours. There was evidence of an association of background radiation and SEP with incidence of CNS tumours, (1.19;0.98-1.40) and (1.6;1-1.13) respectively.ConclusionOf the investigated diagnostic groups, childhood CNS tumours show the largest spatial variation in Switzerland. The selected covariates only partially explained the observed variation of CNS tumours suggesting that other environmental factors also play a role.

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