Umm Al-Qura University
International Childhood Cancer Day
Cancer cells have the ability of uncontrolled unregulated division. They are metastatic as they relentlessly proliferate outside their known outlines, invade neighboring parts of the body and spread from one organ to another.
There are 12 types of cancer that may strike children. Leukemia and Brain Cancer are considered two of the most famous childhood cancer types. The cause of most childhood cancers is still unknown.
The International Childhood Cancer Day is a global collaborative campaign to raise awareness about childhood cancer, and to express support for children and adolescents with cancer, the survivors and their families.
Environmental and dietary factors cause cancer spread among children. This is due to hormonal and chemical additives that contaminate much of the food we feed our children. Therefore, children's diet plays a pivotal role in their protection from such malignant disease.
Anti-Cancer and Antioxidant Foods:
1. Vegetables: yellow carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, as well as green and red peppers are very significant because they contain vitamin A and antioxidants. Other significant groups include cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and onions, because they contain sulfur compounds and the required fibers. This is according to the recommendations of the US National Cancer Institute.
2. Fruits: oranges, lemons, strawberries, bananas, and apples contain vitamins A and B, in addition to antioxidants.
3. Legumes: Legumes contain some cyclic compounds with beneficial effects. Lentils, for example, contain substances which prevent the rise in the level of estrogen to the degree that may lead to some cancers.
1. Blood Cancer (Leukemia).
2. Brain and Nervous System Cancer (Neuroblastoma).
3. Kidney Cancer (Wilms' Tumor).
4. Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas (NHL).
5. Bone Cancer (Osteosarcoma).
6. Retinoblastoma.
7. Connective Tissue (Sarcoma) Cancer.
8. Adrenal Gland Cancer.
9. Hepatoblastoma and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC).
Global: In its 2016 report, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) indicates that childhood cancer percentage may be much higher than previously thought. The report draws on more than 100 cancer registries in 68 countries from 2001 to 2010. It indicates that nearly 300,000 cancer cases under the age of 19 are diagnosed a year. The report also indicates that approximately 80000 deaths worldwide annually occur due to childhood cancer.
Local: Childhood cancer represents 6.1% of cancer diseases in KSA. Moreover, cancers are the most common among Saudi children in both sexes as:
1. Blood Cancer (Leukemia) ranks first (278 cases), with a percentage of 38.8%;
2. Brain and Nervous System Cancer (Neuroblastoma): 97 cases (13.5%);
3. Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas (NHL): 47 cases (6.6%);
4. Kidney Cancer: 44 cases (6.1%);
5. Bone Cancer: 41 cases (5.7%);
6. Connective Tissue (Sarcoma) Cancer: 29 cases (4.1%);
7. Retinoblastoma: 25 cases (3.5%);
8. Adrenal Gland Cancer: 21 cases (2.9%);
9. Thyroid Cancer: 10 cases (1.4%);
Raising awareness about childhood cancer;
Expressing support for children and adolescents with cancer, the survivors and their families;
Increasing appreciation and deeper understanding of issues and challenges relevant to childhood cancer;
Spotlighting the need for better access to treatment and care for all children with cancer, everywhere;
Increasing provision of and access to basic cancer drugs for free or at affordable prices, including those related to pain management.
(Saudi Ministry of Health) www.moh.gov.sa
Databases:
Health and medical complete proquest
Periodicals and Books:
- 100 Questions & Answers About Your Child's Cancer, by William L. Carroll, Jessica B. Reisman; Translation by Nadine Khoury.
- Directive Rational Emotive Program Event to Improve the Cognitive, Social, Physical and Psychological Effects among a Sample of Childhood Cancer Patients; (Research in Periodical/ How to Protect our Children against Cancer?
