Environmental factors such as radiation exposure, exposure to pollution or environmental disasters, like the Bhopal gas tragedy, have been linked to some childhood cancers, writes Dr Vikas Goswami
According to data published in the Indian Journal of Cancer, approximately 45,000 children are diagnosed with cancer every year. The common cancers found in children are leukaemia, brain tumors, lymphoma, abdominal tumors, and muscle and bone tumors. Cancer is such a sensitive issue and when children are exposed to it, the cause of concern gets more serious.
The cause of most childhood cancers is not known. In today’s times, our lifestyle plays a pivotal role in our overall health. Easily available packed or junk food, not doing enough exercise, prolonged sitting, obesity, consuming too much alcohol, and smoking are exposing adults to cancer, but these factors don’t hold much significance in childhood cancer. But a few studies and past researches have shown that smoking in front of your children does affect their health and might increase their risk of cancer, but not much proof is available. Also environmental factors like radiation exposure, too much exposure to pollution or environmental disasters, such as the Bhopal gas tragedy, have been linked to some childhood cancers.
Apart from environmental factors, your family history of cancer could also affect your future generations and expose them to cancer. Parent’s genes increase the risk of certain types of cancer in children or sometimes they can cause a syndrome which creates developmental problems.
If your child has been diagnosed with cancer, then as a parent you need to be very strong to be able to stand by your child. Coping with your child’s cancer and finding ways to stay strong is challenging for everyone in the family. Parents and family support is of utmost importance here as children face unique issues during their treatment, after the completion of treatment, and as survivors of cancer. Children respond differently to the cancer treatment as compared to adults. Also, cancer cases in children and adults are biologically very different.
Most children cancer centres treat patients up to the age of 20. Many renowned hospitals in India have a separate department to treat childhood cancer, called the pediatric oncology department. There are many successful treatments available for treating childhood cancers such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery.
Parental support is much needed in dealing with childhood cancers. Parents need to be supportive towards their child as well as to the doctors who are treating the case. We must know the risks to our children and think of our responsibilities of preventing them because our children are the hope of our future and of our country. There are many success stories of childhood cancer cures in our country. With this fighting spirit, we can surely cure childhood cancers at a rapid pace.
The writer is Senior Consultant Oncologist, Fortis Hospital