Need it in 1 hour

How to Treat Cancer in Children

Name

Institution

Introduction.

Cancer is an epidemic that is wiping out the world’s population at a very high rate; it is worrying to the society because cancer is now a problem that faces children most of the time. This is unlike in the previous years when cancer was associated with old age and older people. The number of children with these horrible disease has acutely risen (Situ, 2015).As (Evan,44) puts it cancer is a dangerous disease because of the fact that treatment of cancer only takes place when the patient takes precaution before getting worse. Doctors say that early detection of cancer helps the victims in dealing with the situation better unlike if it is detected at a later stage.

According to Evan (44) Cancer is a dangerous disease owing to the fact that its treatment only occurs when the affected takes precaution before the situations worsens. It is for these same reasons that physician’s advice that one should conduct frequent health checkups to take care of any possibility of developing cancer. Children who are affected especially those below the age of fifteen are usually subjected to clinical trials. To illustrate further, the treatment takes place in phases, older and newer methods of treatment are compared to see which one gives better results. Through this analysis, great care needs to be observed to elude giving wrong treatment to the children. In addition due to the delicate nature of treating children it is advised that treatment should take place in a cancer center where the children will be monitored and taken care of well. To add on at the cancer center guardian and parents will be taught on how to best handle their children. Cancer treatment process has clinical and scientific methodologies. There is need to improve on the current methods of treating cancer or alternatively find a cure or a vaccination for cancer. This is due to the fact to the increasing number of children suffering from the disease. Cancer patients go through a lot of pain that weakens their immune system. (Godson, 2011). The cost of treating cancer is burdening to both parents and guardians. In this paper, we shall address all the problems associated with cancer, the current methods of treatment ,trend of this treatment methods, advancement made, gaps that need to be taken of and all disputed information about cancer treatment and cancer in children

Cancer Treatment Trends

Cancer in children is a new phenomenon that needs to be addressed differently unlike the cancer cases in the previous generations (O’Neil, 2011). Doctors recognize the fact that each patient’s case is unique and needs to be approached differently. There is no a universal treatment trend for cancer. Cancer treatment is a continuous process and doctors or the physician in charge of treating a particular patient needs to create a rapport with that patient to avoid conflicts. Since children do not understand and cannot make informed decision the physician can start playing games with the child so that they get used to each other and develop an element of trust (Jugendlishe, 2012). This however should be distinguished from instructions while treating the child; the child should not dictate the physician.

Nonetheless, the statistics are not so bad. According to O’Neil, there is only one ill child per each six hundreds (2011). That means that the chances to have a group of victims are rare, so this disease is rather personal, and it is better to move to the area where some necessary specialists or centers are situated.

Overall, it is necessary to follow the trends in both cancer researches and reports of psychologists who deal with children who are the victims. The patients need psychological support to prevent the child from the misery and painful life. The task number one is to make the child sure that life should continue and it still may be bright.

Voids to be addressed.

After a cancer child patient has been properly examined. The proper method of treatment needs to be established uniquely for every patient. The treatment is usually on a balance of probabilities due to the lack of a globally recognized method. Once the establishment of the excellent way to commence the treatment. The most common method of treatment is through surgical operation.

The newly introduced cisplatinum chemotherapy gives a clear way in which to determine the growth of germ cells. The probability of controlling the spread of the germs into the other areas of concern in the body is so much possible. This method is also enough to make sure the tumors are stopped from growing further. The various means of treating cancer have an international recognition and they have been integrated to cater for the needs of all the children under cancer (Iraruke, 2012).Children who have uncontrolled developing tumors experience severe pain .The pain is habitually too much that the normal functioning of the child’s body are greatly affected (Evan, 2013).

Another popular methodology of cancer treatment and cure is referred to as radiotherapy. in these method x-rays are usually used to destroy the cells that have been infected by cancer. In other words, a definite machine usually produces the cancer cells are killed. The child will therefore have several sessions under the machine before she is declared cancer free. There is an advanced treatment to radiotherapy known as the proton therapy which is used in pediatric theraphy.This treatment was developed specially for children, it is however costly and has fewer side effects on the child (MDAnderson, 2015).

On the other hand, the current treatment protocol incorporates various factors such as age, history of the patient, site, and stage of the infection in the body. It is for this same reason that cancer treatment varies from one patient to another since they have varying factors of treatment protocol.

Prognosis and Advances.

Statistics has indicated that the number of children being diagnosed with cancer is on the rise An example is in California, the number of children diagnosed with cancer increases every year sending a warning to the parents to care for their children before it is too late. Parents and guardians need to observe all precaution to ensure that their children are not affected. Precautions they can take are ensuring healthy living and frequent health checkups to establish that their children are okay. These precautions will help ensure that more children survive the cancer menace (Bent, 2009).

In addition, evidence shows that the number of children who survive is because of improved treatment methodologies, due to the technology and modernization. Like the cancer affecting the older persons, the cancer in children has elements bad strain of cells, which are a sequence of cells that cause different problems to the body (Bent, 2009). A child with cancer suffers along with her family leading to a family crisis .In as such; the child should enjoy academic, physical, emotional, and social support from the people around them since their conditions demands that way (Bent, 2009). In this instance, having to treat the children in the best way possible is the only way of ensuring that they remain calm and without stress, which worsen the situation (Bent, 2009). Having a sibling with cancer affects the family immensely as they try to find the means in which to take care of their fellow child. Indeed Bent argues that a cancer case requires that any person related to the victim should have concerns on that person (Williamson, 2013). It is an essential element that any cancer infected child ought to acquire from his or her siblings. When dealing with a cancer victim, avoiding terms and statements that may hurt is the best way to make them succeed.

In case treatment fails, the child’s family has to get ready to give the moral support to the child. The disease getting out of control and proving hard to treat to the doctors and physicians may occasion such cases. The child may be stressful and the task of the siblings or parents is to express real feelings, show their love. At special centers, such families may also find a support and professional help. The child should be put in the most comfort conditions, whether at home or in the hospital to soften the pain (Cancer. Net, 2014).

The latest reports say, that improvement in the cancer treatment helped to reduce the level of the deaths and prevent new cases. Earlier hard-to-treat censers little by little become curable. The diagnoses methods development also helps to detect cancer in children earlier in makes things far worse. Investigation in chemotherapy provided doctors with more effective drugs. New methods were developed to improve life of children with cancer (Kris, 2010).

Disputes

Cancer menace has a line of effects on the child’s life. These effects are so devastating that they steal the child’s cheer and charm. The observable impacts of cancer is that due to its severe nature of causing stress to the child, the academic performance of that child is majorly affected. Affecting a child’s sense of worthiness, it may greatly affect how she thinks of herself. Cancer also causes psychological deficiencies.

These effects are both long-term and short-term difficulties. They may include fear of interacting with their peers and colleagues both at school and at home (Cook, 2014). Research on the effects of childhood cancer indicates that these children may experience academic failures and career inferiority, which ruins their lives in the future. All these effects result more cases of depression amongst children that suffer from childhood cancer. The effects demoralize the child’s future due to the fact they will have to leave with the shameful ordeals occasioned by the disease (Simone & Jane, 2009). Doctors and physicians having difficulty in making sure that the children live a life where all their needs are taken care of should consider giving the responsibilities to a caretaker who is trained to handle such people as the children with cancer. However, the idea of giving the child to a caretaker is facing opposition from other sources. According to (Jefferson, 2010) this period is usually the child’s moment of need and the parents and guardians should be the closet to the child. Having the child suffering physically, emotional and mentally and letting such a child to go through the pain with someone they don’t know is more humiliating and painful. It should be noted the mere fact of parents and family watching helplessly as the child go through pain is haertbreaking.These experience therefore result to a lot of stress for the parents,family,caregivers and other persons involved. The pain is usually during treatment and counseling (Cook, 2014).

Taken, as a whole having a child with the cancer menace is the worst situation. The cost is usually very high to sustain, all these takes a lot of courage and responsibility. After the treatment is also another difficult phase especially during counseling. Victims are usually taught to develop a mentality to think of themselves as cancer free. Overall, cancer is a challenge for child and the family, and everybody has to be strong to bear the situation for successful treatment.

Conclusion

There is light at the end of the tunnel for cancer patients especially children. Because of the high number of children diagnosed with cancer is increasing there is need for an urgent measure to curb the ordeal.Recognising the fact that treatment of cancer is challenging and needs to be approached with a sober mind. The treatment process is also very challenging to both the parents and the caregivers. They all may together go through pain, stress, and have to be courageous enough to continue living with the problem. Children diagnosed with cancer need extra-ordinary hold and concern. Those who surround them should be very strong individuals who will not only care for them but also walk with them and encourage them to have an optimistic future life. As mentioned earlier children always seclude themselves from others and usually have low self-esteem. This state of mind needs to be altered.

Doctors can combine the modern and traditional method of treatment to help save our children from this menace. There are however some treatments that can be used to help the victim overcome the pain. Technology needs to be also used to create and advance better treatment methods. Better treatment methods are the only solution to moving the society forward to other levels. In addition, doctors need to understand every patient individually before subjecting him or her to any treatment. The reason for choosing this topic is its impact on the society. All problems that affect the family affect the whole society as well. Offering solutions to these problems become the fundamental reason to living. In fact, those who are already involved in the process of treatment of victims must be ready for any situation and problem. They have to be able to give their support and feelings to the child and be up-to-date with the entire information available, find out about trends in the research. Cancer is a stress and pain, but everything seems to be much easier if you are not alone.

References.

Bent, L. (2009). "Cancer Pain Relief and Palliative Care and Children." Who 121.54: 186. Print.

Cook, J. (2014). "Why Talk to Kids about Cancer?" Cancer Council 1. Print.

Evan, P. (2013). "Cancer in Children." American Cancer Foundation 1: 1-58. Print.

Gudson, H. (2011). "Psychological Impact of Childhood Cancer." APA Public Interest Government Relations Office 1.1: 1-2. Print.

Iraruke, H. (2012). "Radiation Treatment." Cancer.nz 16: 1-41. Print.

Jefferson, H. (2010). "Childhood Cancer." Public Heath 1: 1-2. Print.

Jugendliche, I. (2012) "Management of Germ Cell Tumors in Children; Approaches to Cure." Onkologie. Print.

O'Neill, L. (2011). "Helping Schools Cope With Childhood Cancer." LHSC 1.16: 1-51. Print.

Simone, J & Jane L. (2009). "Superior Cancer Survival in Children than Adults." Cancer Tuerapy 18. Print.

Williamson, J. (2013). "Epidemiology: Children's Cancer." NHS 12.32: 1-33. Print.