Cancer in children and adolescents

Some 1,800 children in Germany are diagnosed each year until they are 15 Age of cancer. Their chances of survival have improved significantly over the past 30 years. Although concerned parents today can see with a lot of hope in the future, is the cancer of a child an extreme burden for the whole family.

What are the support options available today can expect children, parents and siblings, as the quality of supply is ensured, which offers on the Internet are available and where to exchange relieve those affected and by reading the following text. It is the result of a cooperation of several organizations that provide information about cancer research and are involved in the support of interested parties: They meet regularly to exchange since 2003. The common goal is to improve the information situation of those affected and to the intensified their coordination and to the person seeking advice. This page is a common description of the cooperation of information services.

Cancer in children and adolescents: These diseases can occur

Why do children in general are susceptible to tumors, many parents initially a mystery: Neither play, given the young age of the known risk factors. Yet the time has elapsed, which in adult patients, many risk factors made statistically only at the cancer trigger. The question "Do we have done something wrong," the parents must still ask why not: scientists and doctors now believe that the causes of childhood cancer are not clearly demonstrated in each case. It is possible that the genetic alterations that have made a healthy cell from a tumor cell, taken before the birth of their beginning.
The types of cancer, in which children in Germany are diagnosed most often differ so considerably from those put forward by the statistics for adults: About half of young patients suffering from leukemia and lymphoma, followed by brain tumors, neuroblastoma as a tumor of the nervous system, Finally, the Wilms' tumor, also called nephroblastoma, which develops in the kidney. In young children, predominantly occur in diseases which are derived from embryonic tissue, only in older children and young people will also find other types of cancer such as soft tissue and bone sarcomas, but rarely true carcinomas, which account for as tumors in adults, the majority.
About numbers and statistics inform the company of the epidemiological cancer registry in Germany (GEKID) for example in the brochure "Cancer in Germany", available at www.gekid.de.

Childhood cancers included the German Childhood Cancer Registry, available at www.kinderkrebsregister.de. There the doctors report on a voluntary basis of cancer in children. So far there have been saved only data from children whose disease before 15 Birthday was observed. From the year 2010, the collection will be expanded. Then to the data from young people between 15 and 18 are collected. Which was approved by Health Ministers Conference of State in June 2009: www.gmkonline.de/?&nav=beschluesse_82&id=82_08.01.
Diagnosis, treatment, follow-up: On what services are entitled?

Most children in Germany are insured by law, usually through their parents, and are entitled to diagnosis, treatment and aftercare. For privately insured shall be the respective contract.
Early detection methods for cancer in children and young people who have proven themselves in practice do not exist. Also, most childhood cancers develop so quickly that the usual adult time intervals would be sufficient one between the investigations of year or not to should take a reasonably reliable protection to gewährleisten.In right parents for their children is the periodic assessment U1 U9, which are already made in the newborn for the first time. Its continuation is up to the age of five, or until the pending enrollment is recommended. For twelve to fourteen-year-old will then usually offered or a so-called youth health survey. The claim for these investigations and the reimbursement is enshrined in the Social Code Book V. These studies ensure good contact with the pediatrician, who then also for unusual symptoms as the principal contact. Costs incurred as part of a treatment, take over the health insurance companies. Compulsory health insurance for children are also exempt from co-payments and must pay any consultation fee.
For the whole family: Also possible rehabilitation

What many do not know parents are also contributory to the rehabilitation co-insured children are entitled, and this is when the parents meet the requirements such as waiting period or minimum mandatory contributions, by health insurance and possibly also on the pension insurance funds. Children who receive an orphan's pension, even has its own claim.
In specialized rehabilitation facilities, as well as in-patient care is not just the affected child to rest and complete the treatment. Most hospitals or local facilities offer a family-oriented rehabilitation. Not just one parent but both parents and siblings can accompany the request for the sick child. The professional societies are assuming that their involvement is particularly important because a classic mother-child treatment that would usually intensify during the treatment of existing unilateral separation of the small patient and accompanying parent from the rest of the family still. With parents and siblings are also encountered its own burdens, which have often led to psychological and physical problems. They can be in the rehabilitation and reduce concern.
Standards help to heal: How is the quality of care is assured?

Today in Germany survive about 80 percent of all cancer-stricken children and adolescents, and for some types of cancer is as high as 90 percent. Experts perform these successes to the fact that almost all children are treated as part of so-called therapy optimization studies. This means that all young patients are based on uniform standards, the current best therapy under conditions that allow a very good surveillance and an intensive exchange of experts and the direct transfer of new knowledge available internationally.
Many of the cancers occurring in children speak their specific features, much better to chemotherapy than do cancer cells in adults.
Just because the majority of the affected children now so a good chance of recovery, many new questions: How long should children and adolescents receive aftercare? formerly Can children with cancer to live as normal adults? Has the treatment, particularly chemotherapy, late effects? What about their own children?
The children of doctors, particularly specialists of the German Society of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology and the same competence network (www.kinderkrebsinfo.de) want to contribute more in future networking among physicians and do with information that also treat their peers, adults, not helpless before the former breast cancer patients are with their questions.
Life in the Family: Where there is information and support?

Many organizations and agencies are now contributing to the fact that children with cancer and their families, prospects for a good treatment to be resupplied and endorse best parents and siblings, the disease can not break under the weight of. Below are listed organizations that work in July 2003 at the invitation of the Competence Network Pediatric Oncology and Hematology together to increase awareness for children and parents, but also for professionals.