Cancer can also
occur in young children and adolescents, but it is rare (about
150 cases per million yearly in the US). Statistics from the
SEER program of the US NCI demonstrate that childhood cancers
increased 19% between 1975 and 1990, mainly due to an increased
incidence in acute leukemia. Since 1990, incidence rates have
decreased.
The age of peak incidence of cancer in children occurs during
the first year of life. Leukemia (usually ALL) is the most
common infant malignancy (30%), followed by the central nervous
system cancers and neuroblastoma. The remainder consists of
Wilms' tumor, lymphomas, rhabdomyosarcoma (arising from muscle),
retinoblastoma, osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma. Teratoma is
the most common tumor in this age group, but most teratomas are
surgically removed while still benign.
Female and male infants have essentially the same overall cancer
incidence rates, but white infants have substantially higher
cancer rates than black infants for most cancer types. Relative
survival for infants is very good for neuroblastoma, Wilms'
tumor and retinoblastoma, and fairly good (80%) for leukemia,
but not for most other types of cancer.
Signs and symptoms >>
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Cancer
Classification
1. Nomenclature
2. Adult cancers
3. Childhood cancers
Signs and symptoms
Diagnosis
1. Investigation
2. Biopsy
Treatment
1. Surgery
2. Radiation therapy
3. Chemotherapy
4. Targeted therapies
5. Immunotherapy
6. Hormonal therapy
7. Symptom control
8. Complementary and alternative
9. Treatment trials
Prognosis
1. Emotional impact
Causes
1. Chemical carcinogens
2. Ionizing radiation &
Infectious diseases
3. Hormonal imbalances
& Immune system dysfunction
4. Heredity & Other causes
Pathophysiology
1. Epigenetics
2. Oncogenes
3. Tumor suppressor genes
4. Cancer cell biology
4.1 Clonal evolution
4.2 Biological properties of cancer cells
Prevention
1. Modifiable ("lifestyle") risk factors
2. Diet
3. Vitamins
4. Chemoprevention
5. Genetic testing
6. Vaccination
7. Screening
Epidemiology
History
Research |
