1. Childhood Cancer Gabby Kulikowski & Kellie Campbell

2. What is Cancer?  All types of cancer start because of out-of-control growth of abnormal cells.  Instead of dying, cancer cells continue to grow and form new, abnormal cells.  Cancer cells can also invade other tissues.  Growing out of control and invading other tissues are what makes a cell a cancer cell.  In most cases the cancer cells form a tumor. Some cancers, like leukemia, rarely form tumors.

3. How is Childhood Cancer Different from Adult Cancer?  Development  Childhood cancers are often the result of DNA changes in cells that take place very early in life, sometimes even before birth.  Cancers in adults are strongly linked to lifestyle or environmental risk factors.  Treatment  Children’s bodies can handle chemotherapy better than adults’.  HOWEVER Cancer treatments such as chemo and radiation therapy can cause long-term side effects  Children who have had cancer will need careful follow-up for the rest of their lives.

4. Types of Childhood Cancer  Leukemia (most common type)  Brain and other CNS tumors  Neuroblastoma  Wilms tumor  Lymphoma (including Hodgkin and non-hodgkin)  Rhabdomyosarcoma  Retinoblastoma  Bone cancer

5. Prevention  A few environmental factors, such as radiation exposure, have been linked with some types of childhood cancers. However, most childhood cancers have not shown to have outside causes.  Childhood cancer is difficult to prevent because most cases are a result of inherited DNA.

6. Improvements  In recent years, scientists have made great progress in understanding how certain changes in our DNA can cause cells to become cancerous.  There have been major advances in treatment in recent decades, resulting in a greater survival rate.

7. Statistics  Cancer is the second leading cause of death in children (after accidents).  Childhood cancer rates have been rising slightly for the past few decades.  About 11,630 children in the United States under the age of 15 will be diagnosed with cancer in 2013  About 1,310 children younger than 15 years old are expected to die from cancer in 2013.

8. Statistics  More than 80% of children with cancer now survive 5 years or more. Whereas the 5-year survival rate in the mid-1970s was less than 60%.  Childhood cancers are rare, making up less than 1% of all cancers diagnosed each year

9. Treatment  Treatments are chosen for childhood cancers based mainly on the type and stage of the cancer.  Treatment options might include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and/or other types of treatment.  There are exceptions, but childhood cancers usually respond well to chemotherapy because they tend to be cancers that grow fast.

10. The Treatment Team  Pediatric oncologists  Doctors who specialize in using medicines to treat children with cancer  Pediatric surgeons  Doctors who specialize in performing surgery in children  Radiation oncologists  Doctors who specialize in using radiation to treat cancer  Pediatric oncology nurses  Nurses who specialize in caring for children with cancer  Nurse practitioners and physician assistants  Nurses and other professionals who are specially trained and licensed to practice medicine alongside doctors

11. The Treatment Team cont.  The centers where children are treated for cancer also include:  Psychologists  Social workers  Child life specialists  Nutritionists  Rehabilitation and physical therapists  Educators who can support and educate the entire family

12. Childhood Cancer Awareness  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FRC94_25kA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FRC94_25kA