cancer

what are cardinal symptoms of cancer in children?

unusual mass or swelling, unexplained paleness, sudden tendency to bruise, persistent pain, prolonged fever, frequent headaches, sudden eye or vision changes, rapid weight loss

what is the most common types of cancer in children?

leukemia and brain/central nervous system cancers

what additional consideration is needed when doing diagnostic scans on children?

they need sedation to remain still

what is considered neutropenic?

500-1,000

what is considered severe neutropenia?

under 500

what area of the body is most effected by chemotherapy?

area that have a high turnover rate for cells (hair, nails, GI tract)

when is chemotherapy held?

neutrophil count under 750

treatment used for regional or local control of cancer (tumor and lymph glands)

radiation

what are examples of biotherapy?

immunotherapy or gene therapy

what occurs in a bone marrow and hematopoietic stem cell transplant?

chemotherapy is used to kill all neutrophils and then bone marrow is replaced to create healthy cells

when the child’s own bone marrow is used this is referred to as -

autologous transplant

when bone marrow is transplanted from a matching donor it is referred to as -

allogenic transplant

why is it important for individuals to report any herbal or alternative treatment to their provider if they are also receiving traditional treatment?

herbal/alternative treatment can interact with tradition treatment

what are common manifestation of “chemobrain?”

inability to remember anything

cancer of the bone marrow that leads to the overproduction of abnormal WBCs

leukemia

what is the most common childhood leukemia?

acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)

what leukemia affect lymphocytes?

ALL

when is ALL most common?

ages 2-5

what cells dose acute myeloid leukemia (AML) affect?

blast cells (immature white blood cells)

when is AML most common?

around 2 years old and adolescent

fatigue, feeling cold, recurrent infections, bone pain, and easy bruising are common signs of -

leukemia

what is the goal of the induction treatment of leukemia?

remission - no more abnormal cells in the bone marrow

what is the purpose of placing a central line in leukemia treatment?

triple lumen allows for administration of blood, platelets, and chemo at the same time

what is the purpose of delayed intensification stage?

it is a 2nd phase of consolidation if needed

what is the maintenance phase leukemia treatment defined by?

leukemia remaining in remission

how quickly to patient begin treatment following a leukemia diagnosis?

within a week

what is another treatment for leukemia in addition to chemotherapy?

stem cell transplant

what is indicative of a worse prognosis with leukemia?

a higher initial WBC count

what is lymphoma associated with?

Epstein Barr virus

what is a hallmark sign of Hodgkin lymphoma?

non-tender, firm lymphadenopathy, supraclavicular or cervical nodes

fever, night sweats, and persistent cough are also common signs of -

Hodgkin lymphoma

what has a better prognosis - Hodgkin’s or non-Hodgkin’s?

Hodgkin’s

what are the three types of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma?

aggressive mature B-cell NHL, lymphoblastic, anaplastic large cell

when is non-Hodgkin’s most common?

between 10-20

what is a sign specific to non-Hodgkin’s in children?

affects areas outside lymph nodes (mediastinum, abdomen, head/neck, bone marrow)

what makes treating brain and CNS tumors difficult to treat?

location, blood-brain barrier

seizures, balance issues, headaches, back pain, and changes in personality are common signs of -

brain and CNS tumors

how is chemotherapy administered in individuals with brain or CNS tumors?

intrathecal

solid tumor of the sympathetic nervous system?

neuroblastoma

where is the most common location of neuroblastomas?

adrenal glands (kidneys/abdomen)

what is the most common tumor in infants?

neuroblastoma

what is a common syndrome associated with neuroblastoma?

Costello syndrome

Costello syndrome is defined by -

delayed development, loose folds in the skin, and abnormally flexible joints

Newman’s syndrome is characterized by -

widely spaced eyes and low set ears

a hallmark sign of neuroblastoma is -

mass in the abdomen

a tumor of the kidney is called -

Wilms’ Tumor (nephroblastoma)

what is contradicted in a child with suspected nephroblastoma?

palpation of the abdomen

when is nephroblastoma most common?

3-4 years

what is the treatment for nephroblastoma?

surgery

hematuria, constipation, hypertension, and loss of appetite are all signs of -

nephroblastoma

what do you want to monitor when treating nephroblastoma?

blood pressure (hypertension)

cancer of the muscle -

rhabdomyosacroma

where dose rhabdomyosarcoma originate normally?

embryonal cells

what is embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma?

head or neck, genital, or urinary organs affected

where does alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma affect?

extremities and the trunk

when is rhabdomyosarcoma most common?

2-6 years and 15-19 years

where is rhabdomyosarcoma most commonly seen in the body?

extremities

what is the most common treatment for rhabdomyosarcoma?

surgery (followed by chemo and radiation)

what is a common sign of a rhabdomyosarcoma in the head or neck?

droopy eyes

a lump increasing in size, urinary/bowel changes, blood in the nose, throat, vagina, and rectum are all signs of -

rhabdomyosarcoma

what is a hallmark sign of retinoblastoma?

leukocoria - whiteish/yellowish glow in a child’s eye

what is goal of treatment of retinoblastoma?

save the child’s eyesight

what is the most common bone cancer in children?

osteosarcoma

where does osteosarcoma originate from?

osteoblasts

pain, spontaneous fractures, and stiffness of the extremity are all signs of -

osteosarcoma

what is common treatment of osteosarcoma?

chemotherapy; surgical amputation if chemo does not work