9-30-08

Childhood Cancer

Because of improved treatment methods, outcomes for childhood cancer patients have improved over the past 30 years.

About 2,500 children are diagnosed with cancer each year in the U.S.  Childhood cancer was once thought to be untreatable, but today most children who have cancer can overcome it.  Dr. Gregory Brandt, associate professor and chair of the pediatric oncology division at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, describes various types of childhood cancer.

SOUND BITE:  The number one cancer by far that children experience is a malignancy called acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The second most common cancer is a brain tumor of some sort.  Then third place so to speak in terms of what we see would be a variety of different solid tumors.

Dr. Brandt, who also is one of the cancer specialists at SIU’s SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute, says the most common age group of children who are diagnosed with leukemia are preschool and elementary school ages.  Many of his patients are treated through national clinical trials, which means they have access to medications that may have fewer side effects as well as medications which can improve survival rates.

SOUND BITE:  “The survival rate is increasing every year. That comes about through progress in both research regarding the malignancy itself and improving the way we take care of patients. The overall survival rate for a patient diagnosed with malignancy is upwards of 70 percent.”

Dr. Brandt says today most children with cancer can have a normal life – they can go to school and participate in childhood activities.  Any child displaying symptoms of unusual bleeding or bruising should be seen by their pediatrician or primary care physician, who may refer them to a pediatric oncologist for further evaluation and possible treatment.

This is Ruth Slottag at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.