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Kylie Citty

AP English Literature and Composition

Wilson

March 14, 2018

Childhood Cancer

Thesis: Childhood Cancer is a massively evolving disease, but exploring its perplexing origin,

along with the horrible effects and changes that it brings upon innocent lives can lead to new

discoveries and treatment.

I. About Childhood Cancer

A. What causes it?

B. History

C. Different types

II. Different effects, changes and signs

A. Signs and symptoms

B. Familial Changes

C. Mental and Emotional Changes

III. Research

A. Newest Innovations

B. Surgery

C. Technologies concerning Childhood Cancer

D. Statistics

IV. Therapies/Treatments/Medication

A. Radiation
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B. Chemotherapy

V. Conclusion

The complexities of Childhood Cancer go far beyond the mental capacity of both

respected experts and everyday people. Childhood Cancer is a massively evolving disease, but
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exploring its perplexing origin, along with the horrible effects and changes that it brings upon

innocent lives can lead to new discoveries and treatment.

The causes of most types of Childhood Cancer are still unknown and unexplainable,

which is why the depth of the disease is so complicated: “Most all types of Childhood Cancer are

caused by DNA changes that turn on oncogenes or turn off tumor suppressor genes. Sometimes

children inherit DNA mutations from a parent that increase their risk of certain types of cancer.

However, most Childhood Cancers are not caused by inherited DNA changes. They are the result

of DNA changes that happen early in the child’s life, sometimes even before birth. Every time a

cell divides into two new cells, it must copy its DNA. This process isn’t perfect, and errors

sometimes occur, especially when the cells are growing quickly. This kind of gene mutation can

happen at any time in life. This type of gene mutation is called an acquired mutation. Acquired

mutations start in one cell, and then that cell passes on the mutation to all the cells that come

from it” (“Risk Factors and Causes of Childhood Cancer.”). The reasons for DNA changes that

cause most Childhood Cancer are still unknown. Some causes have been linked to radiation
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exposure, genetics, but many are likely to be caused by random events that sometimes happen

inside a cell, without having an outside cause.

The history of Cancer dates all the way back to ancient Egyptian times. Fossilized tumors

in bones and mummies have been found and categorized as Cancer cells. Despite the fact that

juvenile Cancer was much more rare back then compared to Cancer in adults, the disease in

children was still somewhat prevalent. The types of Childhood Cancer are commonly different

from those found in adults. The most common forms of Childhood Cancer include: Leukemia,

brain and spinal cord tumors, Neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, Lymphoma, Rhabdomyosarcoma,

Retinoblastoma, and Bone Cancer, however, “Leukemias, which are cancers of the bone marrow

and blood, are the most common in cases of Childhood Cancers. They account for about 30% of

all cancers in children” (“Cancers That Develop in Children.”). Cases of leukemia are extremely

common in children diagnosed with Cancer residing in America, but even more so in other parts

of the world.
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Some signs and symptoms of Childhood Cancer can be very similar to those caused by

other illnesses, but most Cancers in children are luckily discovered early in life. Sometimes the

symptoms of Childhood Cancer are often minimalized and underestimated since they are so

similarly categorized to other less serious illnesses. Some of these common symptoms include:

“an unusual lump or swelling, unexplained paleness and loss of energy, easy bruising, an

ongoing pain in one area of the body, limping, unexplained fever or illness that doesn’t go away,

frequent headaches, often with vomiting sudden eye or vision changes, and sudden unexplained

weight loss” (“Finding Cancer in Children.”). All families do experience changes in financial

instability due to hospitalization, treatment, medications, doctors visits, and much more. These

financial struggles can often put a strain on familial relationships, especially marriage. Many

adults who were diagnosed with cancer as children will face a lot of discrimination, and

prejudice opinion that will certainly affect their lives forever: “People who were diagnosed with

Childhood Cancer will not be allowed to enlist in military of the United States, many will be

denied jobs and won't be able to get certain types of insurance policies” (Klemesrud). The
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magnitude of Childhood Cancer inevitably and unfortunately exceeds what the disease itself

actually warrants, and the effects will last a lifetime.

Aside from the obvious physical signs of Childhood Cancer, the mental, social, and

emotional effects can be just as life-changing. Both children and their parents can be diagnosed

with depression and anxiety soon after diagnosis. However, most mental, social, and emotional

effects arrive during and after treatment. All children need a strict routine and schedule, but for

children with Cancer it is nearly impossible to maintain, causing them to struggle in social

environments, relationships, education, and many other things that are easy for most healthy

kids: “Some things kids and their parents worry about post-treatment include: dealing with

physical changes that can result from the treatment, worries about the Cancer returning or new

health problems developing, feelings of resentment for having had Cancer or having to go

through treatment when others do not, concerns about being treated differently or discriminated

against by friends, classmates, coworkers, employers, etc., and concerns about dating, marrying,

and having a family later in life” (“Social and Emotional Issues During and After Treatment of
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Childhood Leukemia.”). It is very normal to have some emotional responses to Cancer and or

treatment, but that does not in any way lighten the effects. Some effects and changes of

Childhood Cancer are simply inevitable, but some are preventable.

The newest innovations in Childhood Cancer are for the most part specifically modified

and targeted for middle and low-income countries: Since most children diagnosed with cancer

account for nearly 94% of all cancer death in children ages 0-14, they are the ones who help and

access to these tools the most (“Sustaining Innovation and Improvement in the Treatment of

Childhood Cancer: Lessons from High-Income Countries.”). One of the newest innovations for

patients diagnosed with Childhood Cancer is called CAR T cell immunotherapy. It was approved

by the FDA in August of 2017 as a treatment for cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This

breakthrough in innovative studies was the first gene therapy to ever achieve FDA approval in

the United States: “CAR T cell therapy harnesses a patient’s immune system to fight and destroy

cancer cells (“5 Trends in Childhood Cancer Research”). This brings hope to families and
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children affected by Childhood Cancer and also alters the landscape for treating Leukemia in the

future.

It is remains a global goal to provide patients with the newest and most modernized

treatments and technologies available. Surgeons are thoroughly trained in both thoracoscopic and

laparoscopic surgery. Both thoracoscopic and laparoscopic surgery refers to a minimal invasive

procedure that assesses the overall disease and disease masses. These surgery treatments provide

patients with the the quickest and most comfortable recoveries: “Children’s Pediatric

Neurosurgery Department plays a vital role in the treatment of children with tumors of the brain

and spine” (“Advanced Cancer Technology | Children's Hospital Pittsburgh”). Neurosurgeons

are also known to use minimal invasive surgery to remove tumors. Tumors can be one of the

most life-threatening aspects of cancer since they are so rapid in growth and strong in power.

Neurosurgeons use ultrasonography for the guiding of the tumor removals, thus needing

knowledge and experience using an ultrasound machine. An ultrasonographer refers to someone

who is equipped as a medical professional that uses sound waves to verify and diagnose patients
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with cancer or other health problems. Another widely popularized technological advance in the

world of Childhood Cancer is “the use of stereotactic-guided biopsies; and intraoperative

electrocorticography, which outlines tumors by measuring the brain wave activity in the normal

tissue surrounding the tumor”(“Advanced Cancer Technology | Children's Hospital Pittsburgh”).

There are also some non-invasive tools in technology that help with patient diagnosis, treatment,

and recovery. The following are examples of types of non-invasive tools uses in Childhood

Cancer patients: “X-rays, ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT scans) and magnetic

resonance imaging (MRI)” (“Advanced Cancer Technology | Children's Hospital Pittsburgh”).

The amount of technology and research that has been recovered is absolutely remarkable.

However, at this day in time there is still no cure for Childhood Cancer despite these advances,

thus illustrating the overall depth and magnitude of this disease.

The statistics concerning Childhood Cancer thoroughly support the complexity of the

disease: “Every day, fourty-three children are diagnosed with cancer, twelve percent of children

diagnosed with cancer do not survive, and sixty percent of children who survive cancer suffer
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late-effects, such as infertility, heart failure and secondary cancers” (“Childhood Cancer

Statistics | CureSearch.”). The statistics prove the brutality and severity of Childhood Cancer.

These facts illustrate how Childhood Cancer is a worldwide phenomenon that is evolving more

than devolving.

It has been an ongoing discussion on if radiation is safe to use in Childhood Cancer cases.

Despite being a distinguished treatment in adult cases of Cancer, it has been questioned if

radiation treatment can stunt the growth and development of kids. However, it is suggested that a

team of medical specialists tailor their route of treatment to assure the proper outcome for each

unique patient. There are two ways of delivering radiation to patients, in most pediatric cases

external radiation is used: “During external beam radiation therapy, radiation beams come out of

a machine called a linear accelerator. The beams are aimed at the tumor or area of concern”

(“Radiation Therapy in Children | CureSearch.”). Accuracy and persistency is the key to a

successful radiation treatment. Another treatment option that goes hand-in-hand with radiation is

chemotherapy: “Chemotherapy works by interfering with the ability of cancer cells to divide and
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duplicate themselves. Chemotherapy can be given through the bloodstream to reach cancer cells

all over the body, or it can be delivered directly to specific cancer sites” (“Chemotherapy in

Children | CureSearch.”). Chemotherapy is effective because it attacks all rapidly growing cells.

Unfortunately, since chemotherapy targets all fast growing cells this includes the normal ones,

thus resulting in the loss of most body hair, fingernails, and toenails. Chemotherapy can also

result in some overall sickness, but the success rate Chemotherapy has in the long run is what

makes it a highly admired use of treatment.

Childhood Cancer is a disease that takes a toll on so many families in America and

around the world. Studies and research have proven the multitude of inconsistencies and

complexities associated with the disease. These horrific associations with Childhood Cancer is

what makes the disease so perplexing, but continuing to move into the future with hope,

optimism, and faith in medical professionals could lead to new breakthroughs and eventually a

cure.
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May 2018

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Accessed 7 May 2018

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childhood-cancer-research. Accessed 7 May 2018

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