Cancer Truths (Child Cancer)

Thankfully, child cancer is rare. However, it does occur and, therefore, has to be considered.

Clearly, cancers associated with adult life and work will not affect children. Asbestos related cancer (Mesothelioma) would be extremely unlikely as the chances of a child breathing in millions of particles simply will not happen.

It is strongly believed that living near to a nuclear facility provides a real risk of starting a cancer in children and so it is wise to be aware of this.

The incidence of cancer in children usually begins in the first year of their lives but the good news is that the survival rate is very high.

Neuroblastoma is argued to be the most common extracranial solid cancer in childhood and infancy. Its solid tumors, which take the form of a lump or mass, mostly begin in one of the adrenal glands, though they can also develop in nerve tissues in the neck, chest, abdomen, or pelvis
The cause of Neuroblastoma is unknown, though most believe that it is an accidental cell growth that occurs during normal development of the adrenal glands.
Leukemia (cancer of the blood or bone marrow) is possibly an equal risk but should be spotted in its very early stages so that effective treatment can be obtained.
There are other cancer types in children but these are usually diagnosed early on and dealt with.
Relative survival for infants is very good for Neuroblastoma and Retinoblastoma, fairly good (80%) for leukemia, but not so good for most other types of cancer.
Male and female infants have about the same overall cancer incidence rates but not so with older children.
White infants have higher cancer rates than black infants. Leukemia accounts for a great proportion of this difference, the average annual rate for white infants being considerably higher than for black infants.

Asbestos and Mesothelioma Associated Occupations

Aerospace production, Aircraft manufacturing, Aircraft mechanics, Textile Mill Workers Automobile Manufacturing, Motor Mechanics, Boilermakers, Brake and Clutch Manufacturers, Assembly Workers, Brake Mechanics, Bricklayers, Building Engineers, Building Material Manufacturers, Carpenters,Cement Finishers, Cement plant production worker, Coastguard, Construction Workers, Crane Operators, Demolition and wrecking crews, Electricians, Foundry Workers, Insulation Manufacturers, Insulator, Labourer, Lathers, Longshoreman, Machinists, Masonary Workers, Navy, Merchant Mariners, Navy Yard workers, Millwrights, Packing and gasket manufacturing plant workers, Painters, Paper Mill Workers, Paperworkers, Pipe Coverer, Pipefitters, Plant workers, Plasterers, Plumbers, Powerhouse Workers, Protective clothing and glove makers, Railway workers, Refinery workers, Refractory products plant workers, Roofers, Rubber workers, Tyre makers, Hose makers, Sailors, Sheetmetal worker, Shipyard workers, Steamfitters, Tapers, Teachers,Warehouse Workers,Welders.

CANCER TRUTHS STATISTICS

CANCER STATISTICS

Incidences of Cancer vary between male and female. Clearly, the different body shapes will attract different areas of cancer but, in general, the figures show that both sexes can suffer roughly the same general percentages of the disease.

Below, you will find the average figures for cancers – male and female separately.

MALE: Incidence Fatal

Prostate Cancer: 33% Lung: 31%

Lung Cancer: 13% Prostate: 10%

Colorectal Cancer: 10% Colorectal: 10%

Bladder Cancer: 7% Pancreatic: 5%

Cutaneous (skin) Melanoma: 4% Leukemia: 4%

FEMALE:

Breast Cancer: 32% Lung: 27%

Lung: 12% Breast 15%

Colorectal (Bowel): 11% Colorectal: 10%

Endometrial (Uterus): 6% Ovarian: 6%

Lymphoma (non-Hodgkin): 4% Pancreatic: 6%

Figures on Pancreatic Cancer are vague but the survival rate is, tragically, quite poor. Due to the difficulty in spotting the symptoms, the disease is usually advanced by the time a visit to the doctor is made and then surgery is often out of the question. The fact that only around 13-15% of people survive a full year after diagnosis, shows what a belligerent form it is. Of those, only 15% or so will survive for five years.

Once again, what we would describe as “good living” is the key to giving ourselves some protection against the various forms of Cancer. Eat healthily, exercise daily, (No need to do anything strenuous), do not smoke, drink in moderation and try to keep a cheerful outlook.