Cancer can appear in children just as it does in adults. Some notable differences exist, however, according to MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institutes of Health. Cancer in children can appear suddenly without any early warning symptoms, though it also tends to have a high rate of cure or remission. The various forms of cancer are treated using a combination of different modalities depending on the specific ailment.
Radiation
Radiation therapy involves exposing the patient to high doses of radiation in order to damage or kill cancer cells and tumors, as noted by KidsHealth.org. It can be administered either externally, using a special machine, or internally, where the patient is injected or implanted with a radioactive substance. Radiation therapy is a localized treatment, meaning that it targets only a specific portion of the body.
However, since radiation can damage both healthy and cancerous cells, it carries many side effects. These include hair loss, gastrointestinal problems, fatigue, skin damage, blood changes and tooth decay. Long-term effects include infertility and an increased susceptibility to other forms of cancer.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is one of the most common treatments for cancer in children, according to the Royal Children's Hospital. It can be administered in one of three ways: orally, or by mouth; intravenously, or through a vein; and intrathecally, or through the spinal fluid. The drugs merge with the patient's bloodstream and kill cancerous cells in affected areas of the body. The method of delivery, duration of treatment and type of drugs used depend on the kind of cancer and the child's response to the medication. Therefore, each patient may have a different schedule of treatment.
Due to the strength of the drugs, potential short-term and long-term effects can occur. Short-term effects of chemotherapy include hair loss, anemia, vomiting, kidney damage, abnormal bleeding, heart problems, skin ailments and greater susceptibility to infection. Long-term effects include organ damage, a greater risk of getting other cancers, infertility and growth problems.
Surgery
Surgery can constitute an effective form of treatment for some forms of cancer, according to KidsHealth.org. In general, children with osteosarcoma, the most common form of bone cancer, can benefit greatly from surgery in conjunction with radiation or chemotherapy. This also applies to patients with solid tumors that have not metastasized or spread to other areas of the body.
Patients with lymphoma or leukemia will require more chemotherapy instead of surgery, since these two forms of cancer involve the entire body, affecting the circulatory system and lymphatics. However, a surgical transplant of new bone marrow can boost the growth of new, healthy cells.
