To fully understand the breadth and severity of pediatric disease, the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS) and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF) jointly financed a report published in the journal Neuro-Oncology. The study revealed the reality of children, teenagers, and families dealing with pediatric brain cancer.
Rising Rate of Children Under 19 Years Old with Brain Tumors
While adult brain cancer patients are seeing a decrease in the incidence of diagnosis and mortality rates, children under the age of 19 are now more frequently diagnosed with brain tumors and dying from them than ever before. The findings show that pediatric brain cancer is a major concern facing the childhood cancer community.
Take note that the frequency of diagnoses and fatality rates vary significantly between the various states. Although the research doesn't discuss the causes of these discrepancies, we know that access to care inequities, environmental factors, and the focus on pediatric cancer in state health policy calls for more investigation.
Although pediatric brain cancer does not discriminate, children of color are disproportionately at risk since they have worse survival rates than white children.
Despite rising mortality rates, focusing on survivability is more important than ever. Since 2010, there has been a 45% increase in the anticipated number of kids and teenagers in the US who are dealing with the effects of brain tumors.
Children and adolescents with brain tumors are generally living longer, despite the fact that their chances of survival have decreased. This rise in incidence raises the need for medical supplies and information on palliative care among patients, survivors, and their families.
Pediatric Community Challenges in Battling Brain Cancer
The data from CBTRUS confirms what the PBTF has been stating for years, according to Courtney Davies, president, and CEO of the organization. The discovery of novel therapies and financial support for patient families must receive more focus and funding to combat pediatric cancer effectively, Davies said.
Because children's cancer does not receive the same amount of attention, research, or financial commitment as adult cancers, pediatric brain cancer patterns are shifting in the opposite direction of those for adults. The scientific community, drug manufacturers, healthcare officials, and funders must exert more effort as children's lives are in danger.
Pediatric brain cancer is a difficult and one-of-a-kind problem. There need to be breakthroughs in treating more than 120 different forms of brain tumors. A scarcity of tissue samples, small patient populations for specific tumor types, and inadequate funding for research have all contributed to an imperfect understanding of this condition. It also takes a long time for viable medicines or cures to emerge.
Treatments designed for adult populations are useless for children or exacerbate chronic health conditions. Since pediatric brain tumors are uncommon, neither pharmaceutical companies nor researchers are driven to look into them. The developmental, emotional, and financial effects on kids with brain tumors and their families are significant, too.
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Pediatric Community Calls Out for Help
As a result of the report's findings, PBTF is calling for a focus on pediatric health and paying closer attention to state-level health policy. Increasing their dedication to supporting successful early-stage research. Every dollar the PBTF invests brings in another $12 in funding.
Without cooperation, there will be no cure for pediatric cancer; thus, the researchers need patient advocacy groups, pharmaceutical firms, researchers, and compassionate people to support them as they deal with the local effects of pediatric cancer.
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