Empowering parents and the public with trusted info about common childhood cancers to support early diagnoses
Despite revolutionary advancements in treatment, cancer remains the leading cause of death among children in the United States after vehicle/firearm-related accidents and drug overdoses/poisoning. No other disease takes more children’s lives than cancer. Organizations like the Pediatric Head and Neck Cancer Foundation know how powerful credible public information can be to support early diagnosis, especially since tumors in kids tend to be detected late. There are many factors responsible for this, from the inability of children to properly articulate their symptoms to inadequate diagnostic tools and guidelines for certain types of childhood cancers.
What are the most common types of childhood cancer?
According to a recent report using data from the National Cancer Institute statistics, the most common head and neck cancers in children includes brain and other CNS (central nervous system) [~40%] and head/neck cancer [~16%].
And what are the most common symptoms of childhood cancer?
We wish there was an universal “red flag” to help us distinguish cancer from more commonplace illnesses and injuries. However, symptoms of cancers can vary depending on the type of tumor that is present. Seemingly innocuous symptoms mask the early warning signs. For example, for the types of cancers that our founders/clinicians treat, Denmark-based researchers noted that the most common symptoms of pediatric head and neck tumors were swelling in the neck region and fatigue. Lymphomas are often accompanied by swelling, especially in the lymph nodes in the neck, armpit, groin, abdomen, and face. Brain/CNS tumors can manifest as changes in a child’s personality, vision problems, poor coordination, and delayed development.