Cancer develops in children from birth to 14 years of age. It is much different from adult cancer. Pediatric cancers growth depends on the treatment, spread, and health of the patient responding to the treatment.
Dr Harshavardhan Annadanam, Best Medical Oncologist in Hyderabad.
Specialist in Pediatric Cancers Treatments
Specialist in Chemotherapy and Cancer treatments.
Neuroblastoma
Neuroblastoma is a type of cancer that develops from an immature nerve cell. It grows around the adrenal glands, which have similar origins to nerve cells. It can grow in areas wherever the nerve cells are present. It affects mostly children who are age 5 and younger.
Symptoms
- Abdominal Pain
- Mass under the skin
- Changes in Bowel Habits
- Chest Pain
- Dark Circles
- Fever
Causes
- Prevention of Genetic mutation
- Accumulation of abnormal cells
- Family history of neuroblastoma
Wilms Tumor
Wilms tumor is a kidney cancer in children. Children between ages 3 to 4 have a high chance of getting affected by this type. It is mostly found in one kidney but rarely it’s found in both.
Any DNA changes can be found with routine checkups.
Symptoms
- Fever
- Blood in urine
- Nausea
- Constipation
- No Appetite
- Breathlessness
- High Blood Pressure
Causes
- Hereditary
- DNA Changes
- Historically affected by this tumor
Hepatoblastoma
An abnormal tissue growth that begins in the liver is known as hepatoblastoma. Early childhood common cancer is hepatoblastoma. It can also spread to other parts of the body. It can first spread to the lungs.
If it is supposed to occur then the symptoms can be seen by the doctor at the starting of 18 months of life. The reasons can be genetic conditions that occur at an early age of life.
This can be treated after an expert oncologist goes through a full picture of medical history and physical examination. The doctor will aim to remove the tumor area in the liver.
Surgery might require support from other treatments like chemotherapy. Surgery will take away the chances of appearing again.
Symptoms
- Back pain
- Anemia
- Itchy skin
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
- Swollen abdomen
Retinoblastoma
The cancer cell that appears in the retina of the child is retinoblastoma. It may be unilateral or bilateral. That means it might happen in one or both eyes. Hollow spaces are formed within the tumor. A child will inherit this when there is a certain kind of gene mutation. It could have been passed by the parent to child during the period of fertilization.
Retina cancer can be detected right after a child’s birth.
Symptoms
- Eyes appear to be looking in a different direction.
- Redness in the eye.
- Infection around the eye
- The pupil looks cloudy.
Medulloblastoma
Medulloblastoma is a cancerous tumor that begins in the bottommost back of the brain. The area called the cerebellum involves muscle combination and balance.
It spreads and covers cerebrospinal fluid which protects the brain and spinal cord. It has a low chance to spread to other parts of the body.
This cancer mainly occurs in children. They must be seen by an experienced pediatric specialist. They in general know pediatric brain tumors with in-depth knowledge of the latest technology.
Contact Dr HarshavardhanAnnadanam, MBBS, DNB, D.M. Medical Oncologist, Chemotherapy Specialist, proficient hematologist, certified in bone marrow transplantation.
He is a specialist in handling chemotherapy solid tumors and an expert in Oncology, Acute lymphoblastic lymphoma, hematological malignancies.
Symptoms
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Double Vision
- Unsteady walk