15 February - THE INTERNATIONAL CHILDHOOD CANCER DAY!

Today is a chance to inform, raise awareness about childhood cancer, to express your support to those children who suffer and to their families, but especially to make children health priority!

First of all do we know what cancer is?

Cancer is the uncontrolled cell proliferation and depends on which organ is found, the cancer cells are different, so it requires different treatment, that's why we say that cancer is a group of many diseases.

Every year cancer affects over 350.000 children and adolescents and that make it the second most common cause of death after accidents.

But as we know the number of adults with cancer is much more than the number of children who suffer from cancer, that' why more research has be done on adults cancer. Wake up! We have to change it! It is time to take action...

Every child has the right to early and proper diagnosis, as well to have access to new methods that gives personalized treatment, as those treatments depend also on the genes of the patient.

The most common cancers in children

▪Leukemia : Abnormal white blood cells form in the Bone Marrow and then they are transfer in the bloodstream. It constitues the 30% of all childhood cancers.
The types of leukemia:

1. Acute Lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL or T-ALL).
2. Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML).
3. Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML).
4. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) very rare at children.

▪Central nervous and Brain Tumors: It constitues the 25% of all childhood cancers.
The types classified by where the tumor started:

1. Astrocytomas.
2. Gliomas.

▪Neuroblastoma: Cancerous cells develop in the adrenal nerve tissue, at throat or in the chest. It constitues the 6% of all childhood cancers.

▪Lymphoma: Cancer in the immune system, develops from lymphocytes.It often start in the thymus, lymph nodes or spleen. It constitues the 3% of all childhood cancers.
The types of Lymphomas:

1. Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL).
2. Non- Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL).

Children are our future, therefore, successful therapy must become a global priority, ensure adequate resources for treatment, progress in treatment and reform of care for all children with cancer in the world.

Today we all show our support by wearing blue!
Τhe real heroes are small children who make great battles!

In future posts i will explain all the parameters of the different types of cancer i mentioned in this post.
Thank you for reading my post!
@redqueen7 clinical chemist!
If you like it...