In many countries, cancer is the second leading cause of death in children over 1 year of age. Fortunately, great progress has been made in the treatment of childhood cancer in recent years. While pediatric cancer is not preventable, it can be detected early and treated effectively. In this regard, children with cancer should be referred as early as possible to specialized health facilities, where they can be treated by pediatric oncologists.
The manual "Early Diagnosis of Childhood Cancer" is published by PAHO/WHO with the aim of helping primary care professionals, to identify children with cancer, and enable timely referral for treatment. The manual provides information and tools on the specific signs and symptoms associated with the main cancer types occurring in children, and reinforces that when cancer is suspected in a child, prompt referral is necessary to prevent late diagnosis.
This manual builds on the methodology established by the PAHO/WHO program Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI). It is intended for use as part of the compendium of IMCI resources for primary care providers. It includes comprehensive information on the main risks factors for childhood cancer and the most frequent cancers in children. It teaches how to assess the possibility of cancer, and gives the health care team the information and tools on how to manage children with possible cancer or signs that require immediate medical attention. It also provides information for follow-up and post-treatment medical attention, at the primary care level, for children diagnosed with cancer.
Diagnosing cancer at early stages can make a big difference in outcomes, and in this regard, this manual can contribute to improve knowledge of primary health providers for early detection of childhood cancer.