Pediatric Oncology

  •   Thu, Apr 21 2022
  •   By Dr Vasudeva Bhat K

April 21, 2022

Introduction to Pediatric Cancers

Childhood cancers are unique type of cancers, the etiology of which is uncertain however majority of these cancers are curable. The estimated cases in India is around 70,000 per year out of which roughly only 10,000 reach the hospitals due to lack of awareness of its curability or inability to reach a cancer care center.

The cure rates have improved from 4% survival in 1960’s to >80% survival in the present age. The rapid and impressive progress in the field in recent decades requires the specialty to be practiced in a milieu in which teaching and research are actively conducted. Outcome of childhood cancers is one of the most impressive among all cancers put together provided these cancers are treated early, diagnosed properly and treated appropriately by trained Pediatric oncologists.

What are the types of Pediatric cancers?

Pediatric cancers are different spectrum as compared to adult cancers. They are classified into 2 types mainly- Hematolymphoid cancers and Solid tumors. Hematolymphoid refer to cancers of blood and lymphatic systems example: Leukemia and Lymphomas. Solid tumors arise from organs example: Kidney- Nephroblastoma (Wilms tumor) or Brain (Medulloblastoma). Leukemias are the most commonly seen cancer in childhood followed by brain tumors.

What are the symptoms expected?

Symptoms depend upon the type of cancer. Usually blood cancers present with fever of prolonged duration, bony pains and bleeding manifestations. Brain tumors manifests with neurological symptoms like headache, vomiting and gait disturbances. Solid tumors again present based on organ involved example: Wilms’ tumor can present as mass in abdomen or blood in urine whereas bone tumors can present with swelling over a bone for a long duration along with pain.

How are the tumors diagnosed?

Blood cancers can be diagnosed on peripheral blood or bone marrow samples. Solid tumors require blood tests as well as diagnostic biopsies. Brain tumors are mainly diagnosed based on age, location of tumor and on CT/MRI scans. Many of the tumors also require investigations to see if disease is spread to other sites for which a PET CT scan maybe required.

What are the available treatment modalities?

Cancers like leukemia and lymphomas are generally managed with chemotherapy alone. Radiation therapy is needed in very few cases of blood cancers. Brain tumors and solid tumors require multi-disciplinary management with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgical expertise and palliative care. The timing of each modality is crucial and impacts the outcome from the disease.

What are the expected outcomes?

Majority of the pediatric malignancies are extremely responsive to chemotherapy and radiation. The expected outcomes differ from type of malignancy and certain malignancy like Leukemia and Lymphoma have more than 80% cure rates. The outcomes of solid tumors and brain tumors depend on whether the tumor is only at one site or has spread. For certain solid tumors like Wilms’ tumor of kidney which has not spread, the expected outcomes are as high as 90% even if Stage IV.

Pediatric Oncology in Kasturba Medical College and Kasturba Hospital, Manipal

The expertise to treat pediatric cancers has started from November 2019 in Kasturba Medical College and Kasturba Hospital, Manipal. Pediatric Hematology and Oncology ward has a 24 bedded ward with state-of-the-art induction rooms with HEPA filters to prevent infections. The ward is ideal for all childhood cancer treatment including stem cell transplantation. The ward also features a day care unit for outpatient based blood transfusion and chemotherapy. The chemotherapy is prepared under laminar flow with strict asepsis. The division also has dedicated pediatric nutritionist and pediatric nurses trained in oncological aspects. The unit is managed by doctors trained in well reputed institutions from India.

The division works with NGO’s like Indian Cancer Society, Yuvraj Singh Foundation, CanKids, Leukemia Crusaders, Access Life assistance Foundation and Cuddles foundation which are dedicated towards supporting children with cancer by providing monetary support, human resources and nutritional supplementation.

For Feedback and queries, please send an email to: marketing.kh@manipal.edu or call +91 820 2922686.

Health Tips by Kasturba Hospital, Manipal
Scoliosis: https://daijiworld.com/chan/exclusiveDisplay?articlesID=5776
Epilepsy Surgery: https://daijiworld.com/chan/exclusiveDisplay?articlesID=5702
The Older Woman & Infertility: Hope for them - https://daijiworld.com/chan/exclusiveDisplay?articlesID=5652

 

 
By Dr Vasudeva Bhat K
Dr Vasudeva Bhat K, M.D. D.M is an associate Professor and In charge Head, Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Deputy coordinator, Manipal Comprehensive cancer Care Centre, Kasturba Medical College and Kasturba Hospital, Manipal.
To submit your article / poem / short story to Daijiworld, please email it to news@daijiworld.com mentioning 'Article/poem submission for daijiworld' in the subject line. Please note the following:

  • The article / poem / short story should be original and previously unpublished in other websites except in the personal blog of the author. We will cross-check the originality of the article, and if found to be copied from another source in whole or in parts without appropriate acknowledgment, the submission will be rejected.
  • The author of the poem / article / short story should include a brief self-introduction limited to 500 characters and his/her recent picture (optional). Pictures relevant to the article may also be sent (optional), provided they are not bound by copyright. Travelogues should be sent along with relevant pictures not sourced from the Internet. Travelogues without relevant pictures will be rejected.
  • In case of a short story / article, the write-up should be at least one-and-a-half pages in word document in Times New Roman font 12 (or, about 700-800 words). Contributors are requested to keep their write-ups limited to a maximum of four pages. Longer write-ups may be sent in parts to publish in installments. Each installment should be sent within a week of the previous installment. A single poem sent for publication should be at least 3/4th of a page in length. Multiple short poems may be submitted for single publication.
  • All submissions should be in Microsoft Word format or text file. Pictures should not be larger than 1000 pixels in width, and of good resolution. Pictures should be attached separately in the mail and may be numbered if the author wants them to be placed in order.
  • Submission of the article / poem / short story does not automatically entail that it would be published. Daijiworld editors will examine each submission and decide on its acceptance/rejection purely based on merit.
  • Daijiworld reserves the right to edit the submission if necessary for grammar and spelling, without compromising on the author's tone and message.
  • Daijiworld reserves the right to reject submissions without prior notice. Mails/calls on the status of the submission will not be entertained. Contributors are requested to be patient.
  • The article / poem / short story should not be targeted directly or indirectly at any individual/group/community. Daijiworld will not assume responsibility for factual errors in the submission.
  • Once accepted, the article / poem / short story will be published as and when we have space. Publication may take up to four weeks from the date of submission of the write-up, depending on the number of submissions we receive. No author will be published twice in succession or twice within a fortnight.
  • Time-bound articles (example, on Mother's Day) should be sent at least a week in advance. Please specify the occasion as well as the date on which you would like it published while sending the write-up.

Leave a Comment

Title: Pediatric Oncology



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.