Treatment for Pediatric Cancers

Pediatric cancers are not as common as adult cancers. The treatment of paediatric cancers may involve a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Now, we also have immunotherapies which can be tailored to effectively eliminate specific type and stage of cancer.

Surgery is the most common and effective in the treatment for pediatric cancers, especially for solid tumors such as Wilms tumor (a type of kidney cancer) or certain brain tumors. The goal is to remove as much of the cancerous mass as possible. However, the surgery should be meticulously planned to avoid any sort of damage or long-term impact to the child.

Chemotherapy, the use of drugs to kill cancer cells, is effective in removing the residual cancer cells post-surgery, and also in cancers that are more diffuse, like leukemia (blood cancer).

Children can tolerate higher doses of chemotherapy than adult. However, if not performed by an expert, the side effects can be severe, impacting growth, organ function, and potentially leading to the development of secondary cancers later in life. Therefore, it is crucial for pediatric oncologists to carefully plan and precisely calibrate the doses.

Radiation therapy uses high-energy particles or waves, such as X-rays, gamma rays, electron beams, or protons, to destroy or damage cancer cells. In children, there's a significant concern about the long-term effects of radiation, including the risk of secondary cancers and impacts on growth and development. Nowadays, we apply it with precision techniques such as proton therapy, which can target tumors and minimize exposure to surrounding healthy tissues.

Targeted therapies are designed to target specific genes, proteins, or the tissue environment that contributes to cancer growth and survival, offering the promise of more effective and less toxic treatments. Immunotherapies harness the power of the patient's immune system to attack cancer cells, with treatments such as CAR T-cell therapy showing remarkable success in treating certain paediatric leukaemia’s.

The treatment of paediatric cancers is interdisciplinary, involving paediatric oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, trained nurses, psychologists to support the child and its family through treatment. This care includes management of side effects, both acute and long-term, and also addressing the psychological and emotional impact of cancer treatment on children and their families.

The most important aspect of treatment is early diagnosis. Most childhood cancers are curable if treated on time by a paediatric oncologist. Over the last three to four decades the success rate has increased to 90 % from 10-20 %.