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Childhood Cancer?
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What is Childhood Cancer?
Childhood cancer refers to malignant tumors that occur in children and adolescents under the age of 18. Although childhood cancers make up a relatively small proportion of all cancers, they represent a serious and complex group of diseases. Childhood cancers can occur in various organs and tissues, with common types including leukemia, brain tumors, neuroblastoma, and osteosarcoma. The exact causes of childhood cancer are still unclear, though certain genetic factors and environmental exposures may be related.
Symptoms of Childhood Cancer
Symptoms of childhood cancer vary depending on the type and location of the tumor. Common symptoms include:
- Persistent weight loss and loss of appetite
- Ongoing pain, especially in a specific area
- Persistent fever and recurrent infections
- Anemia and fatigue
- Bone fractures or abnormal bone growth
- Headaches, vomiting, and vision changes
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Noticeable or palpable lumps or tumors
- If any of these symptoms or other unusual signs appear, it is important to seek medical evaluation and diagnosis promptly.
Proton Therapy for Childhood Cancer
Because children’s bodies are still growing and developing, traditional radiation therapy for pediatric tumors poses many challenges, including the risk of damage to surrounding tissues and long-term side effects. Proton therapy is increasingly used in the treatment of childhood cancers and offers several key advantages:
Precision targeting: Proton therapy can precisely target tumors, significantly reducing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.
Reduced side effects: Compared to conventional radiation therapy, proton therapy can reduce the occurrence of both immediate and long-term side effects, such as growth delays, developmental abnormalities, and cognitive decline.
Applicable to various pediatric cancers: Proton therapy can be used for a wide range of childhood cancers, including brain tumors, neuroblastoma, retinoblastoma, and others.
However, whether proton therapy is suitable depends on the individual case. Patients and their families should have thorough discussions with their doctors to determine the most appropriate treatment plan.
Precision targeting: Proton therapy can precisely target tumors, significantly reducing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.
Reduced side effects: Compared to conventional radiation therapy, proton therapy can reduce the occurrence of both immediate and long-term side effects, such as growth delays, developmental abnormalities, and cognitive decline.
Applicable to various pediatric cancers: Proton therapy can be used for a wide range of childhood cancers, including brain tumors, neuroblastoma, retinoblastoma, and others.
However, whether proton therapy is suitable depends on the individual case. Patients and their families should have thorough discussions with their doctors to determine the most appropriate treatment plan.
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