Cancer impacts on children in many ways, depending on the type, stage, and treatment of the cancer, as well as the age and personality of the child. Some of the possible impacts are:
- Physical effects: Cancer and its treatment can cause various physical effects, such as pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, hair loss, infections, and scars. Some of these effects may be temporary, while others may be permanent or long-lasting. Cancer can also affect the growth and development of children, especially if they receive radiation therapy or certain chemotherapy drugs
- Psychological effects: Cancer and its treatment can also affect the mental and emotional well-being of children. Some children may experience anxiety, depression, fear, anger, sadness, or guilt. They may have trouble coping with the uncertainty and stress of their illness, the changes in their appearance and abilities, and the disruption of their normal routines.
- Social effects: Cancer and its treatment can also impact the social life of children. Some children may feel isolated, lonely, or different from their peers. They may miss school and other activities, lose contact with friends, or face bullying or teasing. They may also have difficulties with communication, relationships, and self-esteem.
- Cancer impacts on children are complex and varied, but they can be managed with appropriate care and support. Children with cancer have shown remarkable resilience and courage in facing their illness. They can still enjoy life and achieve their goals despite their challenges.
While the past two decades have seen scale-up of capacity in select LMIC, access to childhood cancer services remains limited in most Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC) and generally correlates with expenditure on health and broader health system capacity.
There are currently no global data on the availability of childhood cancer services in different countries. In the 2019 World Health Organization (WHO) NCD Country Capacity Survey, over 90% of HIC reported having all fundamental cancer diagnosis and treatment services, namely pathology services, cancer surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Children with cancer and their families, both in High Income Countries (HIC) and LMIC, suffer short- and long-term psychosocial, emotional, social and economic consequences secondary to cancer and its treatment.
For example, the availability of radiotherapy and complex surgical care for children is also contingent on paediatric anaesthesia, which is required for those services to be available and effective. Conditions, psychological response, coping behaviors linked to the child, familial and economic impact of the disease. Direct costs can include travel to the cancer centre, payment for services and/or purchasing of products related to the care of their children. Indirect costs can also be substantial, such as reductions in their incomes due to interruption or loss of employment for parents. These result in negative short-term-effects on household earnings, including potential negative longterm effects on employment. When compounded by an inability to access financial assistance programmes, families can suffer significant financial hardship, including being pushed into poverty
Childhood cancer survivors may also suffer long-term financial and psychological, social and neurocognitive difficulties. This leads to increased difficulty with friendships and the need for special education, especially when reaching the adolescent years. Many of these difficulties can persist into adult years. The adolescent population is particularly sensitive to these effects, given the disruption in self-determination and gain of independence resulting in an enduring psychological impact. For this reason, this population requires specialized psychosocial care and follow-up after treatment
Psychological Response
• Social isolation
• Neurocognitive difficulties
• Lack of specialized care
• Unavailable schooling
Financial Hardship
• Unaffordable care
• High indirect costs such as travel expenses
• Reduced family income
• Lost employment
Coping Behaviors
• Treatment abandonment
• Noncompliant behavior
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