By Dr. Michelle F. Rodriguez

When confronted with the thought of illness, our natural response is fear. This becomes even more unpleasant when we start thinking, what if my kid gets cancer? For some, that distressing idea becomes a distressing reality. Seemingly dark, this can be confronted when we turn our fear into hope, guided by love, courage, faith, and science.

Dealing with the diagnosis

The World Health Organization estimates 400,000 children from zero to 19 years old develop cancer annually.  Common cancers include leukemia, brain, lymphomas, and solid tumors. Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial in battling the disease, with 80 percent survival rate among children.

Some parents are hesitant to begin treatment with the misconception that it will weaken the kids. We tell them it’s the opposite. Delaying a procedure or therapy takes away more opportunities to love, grow, learn, dream, succeed, and live happy well-lived lives. Children are very resilient. They do very well with treatments.

Treating childhood cancer

Treatment depends on the diagnosis, making the correct identification of the issue important. A typical regimen includes either chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, or a combination of these.

The Asian Cancer Institute at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center offers cancer patients, including children, a sanctuary. We provide warriors the best integrative, multidisciplinary cancer screening, and management.

Providing support beyond treatment

As parents we are first to take on the challenge of resilience and acceptance. As we process our fear, guilt, and, sadness, we also think of ways to help our child. This can get difficult.

According to Kythe Foundation Inc., Asian Hospital and Medical Center is the only private hospital in the Philippines with a hospital-wide Child Life Program providing psychosocial support to chronically-ill children and their families. Implemented by the Department of Pediatrics in partnership with Kythe Foundation Inc., the team conducts activities to help children and their families cope with the stress and anxiety of hospital experiences, promote normal growth and development, and maintain normal living patterns.

Preventing childhood cancer

Contrary to popular belief, cancer can occur even in children without a family history. Knowing the risks can help parents assess a child’s vulnerability. Parents should be wary of red flags like anemia and/or hematomas, prolonged fever over five days with weight loss, unexplainable new lumps or bumps, headache, and vomiting early in the morning or late in the evening, bone pain unresolved by medication, and unusual changes around the eyes. As shown by studies from the WHO, other risk factors include exposure to infections like HIV, Epstein-Barr virus, and malaria; environmental risks like exposure to carcinogens (benzene, fertilizer, radiotherapy); and lifestyle (poor nutrition and obesity). 

A regular visit to your pediatrician and timely immunization and a well-balanced diet and exercise may lessen risk to infections which predisposes kids to serious illness. 

Winning the battle

If such a heartbreaking diagnosis happens to your kid, know that this battle can be won when armed with love, proper knowledge, hope, and supported by highly skilled healthcare professionals, giving your child a chance to live a good long and happy life isn’t impossible. These young warriors are braver and stronger than we think.

Understand better and learn more about childhood cancer, at [email protected].  Follow our social media pages @AsianHospitalPH for the latest updates.