Other child cancers
Feb 06, 2011
BONE cancer tumours Okuku says bone cancer affects children and adults, but the peak is among teenagers. It is categorised based on whether the cancer originated in the bone (primary) or it spread from another location to the bone (secondary).
BONE cancer tumours Okuku says bone cancer affects children and adults, but the peak is among teenagers. It is categorised based on whether the cancer originated in the bone (primary) or it spread from another location to the bone (secondary).
The latter is more common than primary bone cancer. Bone cancer is caused by a problem with the cells responsible for making bones. Bone tumours occur commonly in children and adolescents and are less common in older adults.
Though there are many different types of bone cancer, osteo sarcoma is the commonest. It mostly affects males between 10 and 25 years and is often very aggressive with a risk of spreading to the lungs.
Signs and symptoms
Symptoms may vary based on the type of cancer, but pain and swelling below the knee is the commonest. Bone cancer most often occurs in the long bones of the body (arms and legs). However, not all bone tumours are cancerous.
Other symptoms of bone cancer include, joint tenderness or inflammation and fractures due to bone weakness. Non-specific symptoms like fever, unintentional weight loss, fatigue and anaemia can also present in bone cancer patients.
WILM’S TUMOUR (KIDNEY CANCER)
Kafero says Wilm’s tumour greatly affects children in the age bracket of two to five.
Signs and symptoms
The kidney and abdomen swell. Many parents discover the swelling when bathing or dressing a child.
Besides, it presents with severe weight loss, pain in the abdomen, passing of bloody urine, loss of appetite and early morning swelling of the face which subsides in the course of the day as well as high blood pressure.
Kafero says one or the two ovaries can get affected, but if detected when the tumour is still in the kidney, surgery is done and the child is put on chemotherapy to suppress the spread of cancer to other parts.
KAPOSI’S SARCOMA
Okuku says this cancer is common in children infected with HIV/AIDS. It causes patches of abnormal tissue to grow under the skin, in the lining of the mouth, nose and throat or in other organs.
The patches are usually red or purple and are made of cancer cells and blood cells. The red and purples patches often cause no symptoms, though they may be painful.
If the cancer spreads to the digestive tract or lungs, bleeding can result. Lung tumours can also make breathing hard.
He says with the coming of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Kaposi’s Sarcoma spreads faster. Treatment for HIV can shrink the lesions, however, treating Kaposi’s Sarcoma does not cure HIV/AIDS.
The latter is more common than primary bone cancer. Bone cancer is caused by a problem with the cells responsible for making bones. Bone tumours occur commonly in children and adolescents and are less common in older adults.
Though there are many different types of bone cancer, osteo sarcoma is the commonest. It mostly affects males between 10 and 25 years and is often very aggressive with a risk of spreading to the lungs.
Signs and symptoms
Symptoms may vary based on the type of cancer, but pain and swelling below the knee is the commonest. Bone cancer most often occurs in the long bones of the body (arms and legs). However, not all bone tumours are cancerous.
Other symptoms of bone cancer include, joint tenderness or inflammation and fractures due to bone weakness. Non-specific symptoms like fever, unintentional weight loss, fatigue and anaemia can also present in bone cancer patients.
WILM’S TUMOUR (KIDNEY CANCER)
Kafero says Wilm’s tumour greatly affects children in the age bracket of two to five.
Signs and symptoms
The kidney and abdomen swell. Many parents discover the swelling when bathing or dressing a child.
Besides, it presents with severe weight loss, pain in the abdomen, passing of bloody urine, loss of appetite and early morning swelling of the face which subsides in the course of the day as well as high blood pressure.
Kafero says one or the two ovaries can get affected, but if detected when the tumour is still in the kidney, surgery is done and the child is put on chemotherapy to suppress the spread of cancer to other parts.
KAPOSI’S SARCOMA
Okuku says this cancer is common in children infected with HIV/AIDS. It causes patches of abnormal tissue to grow under the skin, in the lining of the mouth, nose and throat or in other organs.
The patches are usually red or purple and are made of cancer cells and blood cells. The red and purples patches often cause no symptoms, though they may be painful.
If the cancer spreads to the digestive tract or lungs, bleeding can result. Lung tumours can also make breathing hard.
He says with the coming of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Kaposi’s Sarcoma spreads faster. Treatment for HIV can shrink the lesions, however, treating Kaposi’s Sarcoma does not cure HIV/AIDS.