As cancer cells grow, they can make a person weaker, harm organs and bones, and make it hard for the body to fight off other illnesses. Pediatric, or childhood, cancers and how they're treated have important differences from cancers that adults get, such as:. Most of the time, doctors don't know why kids get cancer.
In children, a genetic condition, such as Down syndrome , can sometimes increase the risk of cancer. Kids who have had chemotherapy or radiation treatment for cancer are more likely to get cancer again. But most cases of childhood cancer happen because of random mutations changes in the genes of growing cells. Because these changes happen randomly, there is no effective way to prevent them. Getting treatment at a medical center that specializes in pediatric oncology treatment of childhood cancer can help kids with cancer get the best care.
Doctors may use one or more of these treatments for a child who has cancer. The type of treatment needed depends on the child's age, the type of cancer, and how severe the cancer is. It has been suggested that exposure to natural background radiation, to which we are all constantly exposed, may be a factor in the aetiology of childhood cancer, particularly leukaemia. From powerlines to mobile phones: electric fields, magnetic fields, electromagnetic fields and electromagnetic radiation.
The electricity supply generates electric and magnetic fields. Electric fields come from the voltage on cables and magnetic fields result from the current flowing through them. This means that we are all exposed to both electric and magnetic fields, in the home or workplace. There has been considerable research into the potential health consequences of exposure to these fields, although most of research has concerned the magnetic fields.
Average levels in the home are generally low at around 0. Levels are higher near appliances such as hair driers, but we tend only to be exposed for short periods. The most recent pooled analysis of international studies found a 2. While these levels are higher than the average generally found in the home, they are below those found near high voltage overhead powerlines. There is some laboratory evidence that magnetic fields can damage DNA — a feature common to known cancer causing agents such as ionising radiation and carcinogenic chemicals.
Importantly it does not use x-rays. In MRI scanning exposure to magnetic fields is very short and there are no known side effects of the magnetic field exposure in an MRI scan. Electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones Mobile phones are radio transmitters and receivers.
Thus, they have electric and magnetic field associated with them. They also emit electromagnetic fields in the form of radio waves or electromagnetic radiation, EMR. There is concern that exposure to EMR from mobile phones is harmful to health. Following a review of evidence that long-term use of mobile phones may increase the risk of brain tumours in adults, IARC in classified Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans.
While there are ongoing studies, a link between mobile phone use and cancer in children has not been established at this time. UV radiation The ultra-violet component of sunlight is known to increase the risk of skin cancer in adults.
Australia and New Zealand have a relatively high incidence of childhood melanoma which may be due to UV radiation. Viruses are known to be implicated in some human cancers including:. These associations can only account for a tiny proportion of childhood cancer in western countries.
There is a great deal of support for a role of infection in the development of childhood leukaemia. Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia ALL has an incidence peak at years of age, coinciding with the timing of common childhood infections such as measles. However, despite intensive research efforts, no specific leukaemia-causing virus has been identified in children. Two different theories suggest that rather than being the result of a specific leukaemia-causing virus, childhood leukaemia could be the result of an abnormal response to a common infection.
A cluster of cases of childhood leukaemia around the nuclear reprocessing plant of Sellafield in Cumbria in the s caused speculation that the cluster must be related to radiation exposure. The isolated village of Seascale, at the centre of the cluster, had seen a rapid influx of families. They were brought together from all over the UK to work at Sellafield, and undoubtedly bringing with them an influx of infections. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:.
Before a biopsy, you need to discuss a range of issues with your doctor or surgeon. Bladder cancer affects twice as many men as women. Bone cancer is a rare form of cancer that is treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy or hormone therapy.
Bowel cancer is highly curable if found at an early stage. Brain cancer symptoms and treatment depend on which part of the brain is affected. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional.
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Home Cancer. Cancer in children. Actions for this page Listen Print. Instead, childhood cancer often shows up out of the blue, when a host of genetic mutations come together in a certain way to cause cancer.
Maris said. But why does unraveling any of this matter? Maris explained. Or was it just a very freak occurrence? Maris wants to see not only more funding going to this quest, but also more minds and more collaboration.
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