Treatment of childhood cancer

Cancer treatment in children depends on factor such as stage of cancer and type

Leukemia : Treatment involves a combination of chemotherapy, CNS prophylaxis: injecting chemotherapy into the cerebrospinal fluid (intrathecally) as a preventive measure against the leukemia spreading to the central nervous system Radiation therapy to the head in selected cases, Allogeneic bone-marrow transplantation in first or second remission, depending on the type of leukemia and Investigational therapies

Hodgkin’s disease  : Treatment involves chemotherapy, radiation therapy and investigational therapies.

Non Hodgkin’s lymphoma : Treatment involves the following :

• Chemotherapy, CNS prophylaxis: injecting chemotherapy into the cerebrospinal fluid (intrathecally) as a preventive measure against the lymphoma spreading to the central nervous system.
• Radiation therapy to the chest is sometimes given to shrink a lymphoblastic lymphoma that is obstructing breathing or circulation.
• Allogeneic bone-marrow transplantation (after relapse).
• High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous bonemarrow transplantation (usually after relapse).
• Investigational therapies

Brain tumors :  Treatment includes surgery to remove the tumor from the brain, radiation therapy to the brain ( and spine if the cancer has spread), chemotherapy and investigational therapies.

Rhabdomyosarcoma :  Treating this cancer involves surgery to remove the tumor, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, high dose chemotherapy followed by  autologous bonemarrow transplantation (usually after relapse) and investigational therapy.

Osteosarcoma : Treatment includes the following :

• Preoperative chemotherapy
• Limb-salvage surgery to preserve the limb or amputation
• Chemotherapy
• Surgery to remove any metastatic tumors that remain following chemotherapy
• Investigational therapies

Ewing’s sarcoma : Treatment options for Ewing’s sarcoma includes :

• Preoperative chemotherapy
• Surgery to remove the tumor
• Radiation therapy (if the tumor is not completely resected)
• Surgery to remove metastases to the lungs
• High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous bonemarrow transplantation (after relapse)
• Investigational therapies