Childhood cancer is a term for cancer that occurs in a child between being born and the age of 14. Without question, cancer is a tragedy; this is something everyone can agree on. Without a cure for any cancer, all that can be done is research. Every day, doctors get closer to finding a cure for this horrible disease.
Unlike adults, most childhood cancers are not directly linked to lifestyle choices or risk factors in their environment. Youth cancers tend to show and act more aggressively in their bodies. Because of this, the treatment for children may be harsher and more aggressive but typically results in being more successful. This is not to mention the later effects on their bodies. Because children’s bodies are not fully developed and continue to grow, they may have more side effects in the long course of life. For example, children may be more at risk during radiation treatment than adults undergoing the same treatment.
Early-life cancer is typically linked to gene changes; this would be called a mutation. Gene changes that occur early in the development of a fetus tend to increase the risk of leukemia for the child later on. This does not mean that every child with that mutation will end up with cancer. Research for adolescent cancer is much more underdeveloped than that of adults because it is much more rare, also making it difficult to diagnose at times.
Although it may be rare, some children’s cancer has been caused by toxic environments such as polluted drinking waters or low-quality air. Genetic conditions such as Down syndrome, which is a genetic disease that happens when a person is born with an extra copy of chromosome 21, and Li-Fraumeni syndrome, which is an inherited disease, can increase the risks of cancer developing in a child. The most common, though, happens from random mutations in genes.
There is nothing that can be done to prevent cancer from occurring. The Quill and Scroll at MIA has partnered with the St. Balricks charity to host a head-shaving event at the school gymnasium. We cannot stop this tragedy, but we hope to get more support and donate to this charity to help doctors make a breakthrough.
