Childhood Cancer

Question 1

Definition:

Answer 1

The first signs and symptoms that occur that might
signal the onset of cancer
 They occur early in the course of the disease
 85% of cancers present with these warning signs
 = important reminder to think of cancer
 If you don’t think of it, you won’t diagnose it

Question 2

Why is it important

Answer 2

Early referral and diagnosis
Diagnosis of early stage cancer
Good excellent Prognosis and survival

Question 3

6 risk factors for cancer patients

Answer 3

Neurocutaneous syndromes, e.g. Neurofibromatosis
 Certain syndromes/chromosomal abnormalities
 Down syndrome, Fanconi anaemia, Beckwith-Wiedeman
syndrome, etc.

Immunodeficiency disorders
 Acquired (HIV) and congenital
 Congenital malformations
 Hemi-hypertrophy, aniridia, etc.
 Other
 E.g. previous malignancy and treatment of a cancer
(chemotherapy±radiotherapy)

Question 4

Important in fighting cancer

Answer 4

Teach parents what to look for and to seek help
early
2. Educate all health care practitioners
 Early warning signs of cancer
 High index of suspicion when these signs are found
 Refer early
Therefore cancer awareness
programmes extremely
important

Question 5

St Silvano warning signs

Answer 5

SEEK medical help early for PERSISTENT
symptoms
 E.g. Bone pain, mass, fever, lymphadenopathy,
etc.
I = EYE
New onset of:

Squint
 Bulging eye (proptosis)
 Blindness/visual disturbance
White spot in eye (leukocoria)
 Leucocoria (white spot in eye) or ‘cat’s eye reflex’ is extremely important to
look for :
• at birth and at the 6 week follow-up visit
 Test in a dark room by using an opthalmoscope at arm’s length and looking at
the pupil:
 Pupils should look similar
 Yellow-orange-red reflex
 No shadows

Question 6

Diagnosis and course of disease

Answer 6

Advanced bilateral retinoblastoma
 Had enucleation (removal) of right eye
 And local cryotherapy to left eye
 Plus chemotherapy
 Prognosis of retinoblastoma
 Early stage = >90% EFS vs. advanced stage = ± 20%
EFS

Question 7

Lump mass

Answer 7

Abdomen
Lymph nodes
Head and neck
Limbs
Other sites

Question 8

UNEXPLAINED symptoms and signs:

Answer 8

Fever >2 weeks
Bleeding
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Pallor

Question 9

ACHE

Answer 9

Legs
 Back

Joints
 Easy Fractures

Question 10

Neurological changes