Treating childhood cancer!

In spite of the developments in treatments and technologies that are enhancing the survival rate of childhood cancer, children with cancer are still at risk for developing various cognitive, sexual and heart problems, later in their lives, because of the cancer itself and the side effects of cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy that they receive. Some studies have shown that cancer treatments can damage brain white matter and disrupt brain activity to a large extent.

Researchers at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York are now working to reduce this risk, by reducing or increasing the doses of medicine administered on children with cancer, based on a type of protein present in the tumor. By doing so, they are able to minimize the damage caused by cancer therapies on the quality of the life of childhood cancer patients, which enables them to lead a normal life like any other person.

This news story, throws more light on this new approach to treating childhood cancer.