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<p>Did you know that cancer is one of the leading causes of death among Thai children? <span style="color: #00826a;"><strong>Dr. Chayamon Thakpradit</strong></span>, a pediatric oncologist and hematologist at the Child Health Center, Phyathai 3 Hospital, explained that statistics show an incidence of about 78 cases of childhood cancer per 1 million children each year. Thailand has a population of over 12 million children aged 0-15 years, which means that every month, about 80 Thai children are diagnosed with cancer.</p>
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<h4><span style="color: #00826a;">4 Common Tumors in Thai Children</span></h4>
<p>Dr. Chayamon explained that childhood cancer can occur from birth up to 18 years old, with different symptoms depending on the type, as follows:</p>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #00826a;"><strong>Acute Leukemia</strong></span> – This is the most common, accounting for about half of all childhood cancer cases. It is divided into two types: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), with ALL being about three times more common than AML. Symptoms include fever, pallor, fatigue, petechiae on the body, body or bone pain, or physical examination may reveal an enlarged liver. Blood tests (CBC) show abnormal blood cells. Diagnosis is made by bone marrow aspiration to examine abnormalities in white blood cells (blast cells).</li>
<li><span style="color: #00826a;"><strong>Lymphoma</strong></span> – The second most common type. Children often have chronic fever of unknown cause, weight loss, fatigue, hard lumps under the skin, or enlarged lymph nodes throughout the body. Diagnosis requires a biopsy of the lump or lymph node for detailed pathological examination, along with further investigations to assess disease spread, such as imaging studies (CT scan, Gallium scan/PET scan, and Bone scan) and bone marrow aspiration.</li>
<li><span style="color: #00826a;"><strong>Brain and Nervous System Tumors</strong></span> – The third most common. Symptoms depend on the tumor location, the type of cancer cells and their growth rate, and the patient’s age. Patients may present with unsteady gait, vomiting, visual disturbances, headaches, or seizures. Some children are brought to the doctor due to delayed developmental milestones. Diagnosis requires additional imaging (CT scan or MRI) to determine the tumor’s location and size, followed by surgery to obtain tissue for pathological examination.</li>
<li><span style="color: #00826a;"><strong>Adrenal Gland Cancer (Neuroblastoma)</strong></span> – Usually found in children from newborn to 6 years old. The disease progresses rapidly and severely. Patients often present with an abdominal mass along with other complications from disease spread, such as fever, pallor, weakness, body or bone pain, or hard lumps under the skin. Diagnosis can be made through various methods, including bone marrow aspiration, blood tests for tumor markers, or biopsy of the mass for pathological examination.</li>
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<h4><span style="color: #00826a;">Childhood Cancer… How is it Treated?</span></h4>
<p><span style="color: #00826a;"><strong>Dr. Chayamon</strong></span> said that the main treatments for childhood cancer are chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery, combined with proper infection prevention care. If the patient responds well to treatment, children have a higher chance of complete recovery compared to adults. In cases where the disease does not respond to treatment or relapses, stem cell transplantation from a donor with matching HLA tissue is another treatment option to increase the chance of cure for these children.</p>
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<h4><span style="color: #00826a;">Cannot be Prevented, But Can be Cured</span></h4>
<p>Currently, there is no way to prevent childhood cancer, and most causes remain unclear. However, if patients or caregivers notice any of the concerning symptoms mentioned above, they should promptly bring the patient to see a doctor for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment in a timely manner. This is very important and beneficial for the patient.</p>
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<div style="text-align: right;"></div>
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<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #00826a;"><strong>Dr. Chayamon Thakpradit</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">Pediatric Oncologist and Hematologist</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">Child and Adolescent Health Center, Phyathai 3 Hospital</div>


When a child in the household shows abnormalities, they should be taken to see a doctor immediately because they may have one of these 4 types of cancer: leukemia, lymphoma, brain and nervous system cancer, or adrenal gland cancer. If treated early, the chances of recovery are higher.

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Get to Know 4 Types of Childhood Cancer... Early Detection, Early Treatment, Complete Recovery Possible

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