2023-10-22 16:00:39
Cancer in children is a subject that often evokes great concern, even terror, among parents. Although medical science has progressed by leaps and bounds, the disease remains the leading cause of death among children over one year oldas explained The Sun.
This reality is all the more alarming when we realize that the majority of adults, including parents themselves, feel helpless when it comes to recognizing the symptoms of cancer in children. According to a study recently published in the British Medical Journal, This ignorance is much more widespread than one might thinkhighlighting the urgency of better education and public awareness on this subject.
Lack of awareness of these symptoms is the major obstacle to early diagnosis
The most common cancers in children are acute leukemia, brain and spinal cord cancers. Every year, almost 3,750 new cases are diagnosed in children and young people under 24 in the UK. Yet research shows that 68% of UK adults are unsure whether they can identify the telltale symptoms of childhood cancer. Additionally, only 47% of parents are able to list common signs.
One of the study’s co-authors, Dr. Shaarna Shanmugavadivelia, points out that symptoms of this disease in children are often similar to other common conditions. With no screening tests currently available, public and professional awareness is crucial to ensure early diagnosis and treatment.
The survey, which surveyed 1,000 adults, asked regarding their confidence in recognizing the signs and symptoms of cancer and which symptoms require medical attention. On average, respondents identified only 11 of 42 classic symptoms. Less recognized symptoms include early or late puberty, developmental delay in infants, and slow growth.
Nearly half of respondents (43%) indicated that‘they would wait three months or not consult a doctor at all for persistent or recurring sore throatshoarse voice or slow recovery following a bone or joint injury.
On the other hand, the most recognized symptoms include a mass or swelling in the pelvis, testicle or breast; blood in urine or stool; changes in moles; a mass or swelling in the chest wall or armpits; and weight loss.
Dr Shanmugavadivelia, from the School of Medicine at the University of Nottingham, insists that, Although childhood cancer may seem rare compared to adult cancers, the cumulative risk from birth to young adulthood is comparable to that of other childhood diseases. She adds that parents tend to associate common symptoms with common childhood illnesses, but not with cancer, making it important to raise awareness.
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