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Some facts about Pediatric Cancer and Brain Tumors
- Pediatric cancer is the most common childhood disease. Every school day, 46 children are diagnosed with a form of pediatric cancer.
- Unlike adult cancers which are due mainly to age and lifestyle choices, most pediatric cancers are caused by genetic anomalies.
- 1 in 5 children diagnosed with pediatric cancer will not survive five years past diagnosis.
- Childhood brain tumors are the 2nd most frequent cancer of childhood and are the most common form of solid tumor. Tumors of the central nervous system make up 22% of all cancers occurring in children up to 14 years of age and 10% of tumors in 15-19 year olds. They are the leading cause of death from childhood cancer.
- According to the National Cancer Institute, in the United States in 2007, approximately 10,400 children under age 15 were diagnosed with cancer and about 1,545 children died from the disease. On average, 1 to 2 children develop the disease each year for every 10,000 children in the United States. For childhood brain tumors, the overall incidence in 2004 was 3.2 cases per 100,000, up from 2.3 in 1975.
- There are many different kinds of brain tumors and symptoms and treatment may differ widely depending on the tumor type and its location in the brain. Half (50%) of tumors in children arise in the lower parts of the brain including the cerebellum and brainstem. In contrast in adults, over 90% originate above this area. Symptoms from tumors in this area include headaches, nausea, vomiting, trouble moving arms and legs, unsteadiness or increasing clumsiness.
- Some tumors are found in the upper part of the brain which holds the cerebral cortex and ventricular (fluid filled space) system. Symptoms here may also include headaches, seizures (uncontrolled twitching of the body, loss of consciousness) or funny feelings in one side of the body.
- If your child is diagnosed with a brain tumor, you will meet a team of people who will help treat your child. These may include pediatricians, pediatric cancer doctors (oncologists), radiation oncologists, neurosurgeons, nurses, social workers, child life specialists, and physical, occupational, and speech therapists.
- Treatment may include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments. The exact treatment will depend on the tumor type.
For more information, you can look to these websites:
Cancer facts provided by Dr. Gary Tye, Neurosurgeon
- The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation
- The Association for the Support of Children with Cancer or ASK
- The Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation
- National Cancer Institute
Cancer facts provided by Dr. Gary Tye, Neurosurgeon