ANNUAL INCREASE OF 7000 CANCER CASES REGISTERED IN ARMENIA, 80-100 CANCER CARRIERS ARE CHILDREN
PanARMENIAN.Net
15.02.2010 15:42 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Oncological diseases among children in Armenia,
as well as worldwide, are less common than with adults, according to
the head of childhood oncology and chemotherapy department at National
Center of Oncology, professor Grigory Badalyan.
"Annual increase in cancer cases in Armenia comprises 7000; 80-100
cancer carriers are children. Over the last 10 years, cancer incidence
grew by 15% with adults and by 7-8% with children. Still, there’s no
reason to panic, as over 65% of children diagnosed with cancer are
fully recovering after the treatment," prof. Badalyan said at a news
conference, dated to February 15 International Childhood Cancer Day.
"Still, childhood cancer is in many respects different from adult
disease: latent period lasts several months, with treatment results
revealing themselves soon. Childhood cancer risk period lasts 2
years: the child is considered recovered in case no recurrences were
registered at the expiration of the period," he explained.
According to him, malignant tumors can develop in children of any age,
yet, children aged 2-4 and 10-12 are at highest risk.
In conclusion, the professor advised special care for pregnant women
by avoiding stress, smoking and use of carcinogens to prevent possible
occurrence of cancer in unborn children.