Sverdlovsk oncologist identifies children with highest cancer risk

An oncologist from Yekaterinburg said that every year in Sverdlovsk Region approximately 150 children are diagnosed with cancer. The statistics for pediatric oncology in our region are the same as worldwide — 16 patients per 100,000 children.

Oleg Arakayev is the chief freelance pediatric oncologist of the Ministry of Health of Sverdlovsk Region.

Oleg Arakayev explained that looking at the incidence statistics in children, there are several peaks: at 3–4 years they can develop hemoblastoses, central nervous system tumors appear either in younger or adolescent age, and solid cancer can appear from 0 to 18 years.

Hemoblastoses — a broad group of malignant tumor diseases of hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues. They are characterized by pathological proliferation of blood cells, disruption of hematopoiesis, and also damage to the bone marrow (leukemia) or lymph nodes (lymphomas).
Solid cancer — a malignant tumor that forms a dense node (solid — hard) in tissues or organs, excluding the hematopoietic system (leukemias). Such formations have clear boundaries, can affect the central nervous system, kidneys, bones, or soft tissues, often developing from embryonic cells. Unlike adults, in children these tumors often grow faster and have a different nature.

In developed countries, the survival rate exceeds 80%, Russia is among them. The pediatric oncologist said that this was achieved thanks to modern immunotherapy, bone marrow transplantation, and targeted therapy.

«Features [of the disease course] in younger patients are high toxicity, risk of infectious complications, intolerance to certain drugs. Older patients tolerate chemotherapy better, respond faster to therapy, and achieve remission», — said Oleg Arakayev at a press conference in TASS-Ural.

Schoolchildren do not require separate cancer screening. The doctor explained that children are examined during medical check-ups; some children, if necessary, undergo general and biochemical blood tests, ultrasound diagnostics, and fluorography. But there are those who have a higher risk of getting sick.

«There is a special group of children — patients with immunodeficiency conditions, Down syndrome, and other congenital syndromes — these patients have a several dozen times increased risk of cancer», — said Oleg Arakayev.

Pediatricians especially carefully monitor children with such diseases to not miss the development of a malignant formation, and if it begins to develop, to start treatment at early stages.

We told the story of how Sverdlovsk oncologists removed a kidney from a toddler to save her; the girl«s second kidney «works for two».

Read the story of the doctor who survived cancer at age 16 and decided to save people himself.

In this article, our colleagues from NGS24.RU examined why parents of children with cancer prefer not to wait and go abroad for treatment.