Paediatric Cancer, Types and Prevalence in India - Dr Kriti Hegde

Paediatric cancer refers to a group of malignancies that occur in infants, children and adolescents, typically under the age of 15. Unlike the other types of adult cancers, which are significantly linked to health, lifestyle and environmental factors, most of the childhood cancers arise from changes in growing cells. Early intervention and specialised care, makes many types of childhood cancers highly treatable and even curable if identified in time.

Common Types of Childhood Cancer

Paediatric cancers are rare when compared to adult cancers. However, several types, like leukaemias, lymphomas, brain and central nervous system tumours are more frequently encountered in clinical practice:

● Leukaemias: Blood cancers are the most common in children, accounting for a major and significant proportion of diagnoses. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is the predominant type seen, especially in children aged two to ten.

● Brain and Central Nervous System Tumours: These tumours are the most common solid cancers in children.

● Lymphomas: Cancers of the immune system such as Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma are also important childhood malignancies.

● Neuroblastoma: Arising from nerve tissue, often in the abdomen or chest, this cancer affects very young children.

● Wilms Tumour and Retinoblastoma: These are types of cancers that target the kidney and the eyes respectively. They are mostly observed in early childhood.

Other less common types include bone cancers and soft tissue sarcomas.

Prevalence in India

Cancer in children is very uncommon, representing about four to five per cent of all cancers in India. Studies indicate that over 50,000 children are diagnosed with cancer annually, although under-reporting and delayed diagnosis remain significant challenges. It is important to note that India has no national cancer registry, these numbers are only estimations based on hospital cases.

Early Warning Signs

Children with cancer may usually show signs and symptoms that often mimic common illnesses, which may be mistakenly overlooked. This makes close vigilance essential. Some of the warning signs may include:

● Persistent fever and constant, unexplainable fatigue or tiredness

● Unintentional weight loss

● Easy bruising or bleeding

● Bone or joint pain

● Unusual lumps or swelling

● Persistent headaches or neurological symptoms

Developments and Advances

Over the past decade, there have been significant advances in the diagnosis and treatment of paediatric cancers. Better access to specialised paediatric oncology centres along with advances in imaging and molecular diagnostics have dramatically enhanced the outcomes for many children.

A multidisciplinary care model involving a team of paediatric oncologists, surgeons, radiation specialists, nutritionists and psychosocial support teams are now increasingly being adopted by healthcare centres.

Conclusion

With a fast, continuous and steady advancement in medical science and healthcare infrastructure, the outlook for children diagnosed with cancer is improving. Early recognition, informed care and collective effort remain the strongest tools in ensuring that more children not only survive cancer but go on to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.

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