9-22-09

Childhood Cancer

Because of better treatment methods, outcomes for childhood cancer patients have improved.

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. Daniel Niebrugge, assistant professor of pediatric hematology/oncology at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, explains the most common childhood cancers.

SOUND BITE:  “Cancer in children is a relatively small number compared to the adults, but probably the most common type of cancer is childhood leukemia. Brain tumors are the most common non-leukemia type of cancer in children.”

Dr. Niebrugge, 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 receive the benefits of enrolling in national clinical trials, which means they have access to medications that may have fewer side effects as well as some which can improve survival rates.

SOUND BITE:  “If you have standard childhood leukemia, the survival rate is now close to 90 percent.  There are some diseases we really have trouble with, like advanced stage neuroblastoma.  We have not gotten very good survival rates even with modern therapy.  But most of the cancers we see in children, including leukemia, have improved dramatically.”

Dr. Niebrugge says today most children with cancer can have a normal life – they can go to school and participate in regular childhood activities.  As for warning signs, any child who has persistent fever or bone pain lasting for a few weeks should be seen by their pediatrician or primary care physician.  The child may be referred to a pediatric oncologist for further evaluation and possible treatment.

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