As each December 21 today is the National Day of the Child with Cancer. This initiative was born promoted by the Spanish Federation of Parents of Children with Cancer. In Spain, pediatric cancer affects about 1.100 minors per year. The good news is that childhood cancer mortality is relatively low. There are survival rates after 5 years of treatment close to 80%, and reach 100% in some specific types of tumors.
These data have been provided by the General Council of Pharmaceutical Colleges, published in its document Pharmacological Point 148. The report explores the clinical aspects and treatment of the most frequent neoplasms in children, in addition to updating the healthcare role of the pharmaceutical professional.
The role of the pharmacist in the treatment of childhood cancer
The role of the pharmacist is contribute to a better quality of life for these patients. The pharmacist contributes to the education of child patients and your families with leukemias and lymphomas in aspects such as diet, since certain treatments and the disease itself can cause malnutrition. Hematological tumors and those of the central nervous system are the most common in terms of childhood cancer. About 50% of children under 15 years of age with cancer have leukemia.
In early detection, the pharmacist is an ally, since the early start of treatment for leukemias and lymphomas is decisive. Some of the red flags that the pharmacist can detect They are: fever of unknown origin, weight loss or marked asthenia with no apparent cause, bruising without an identified cause, swollen lymph nodes, or the appearance of "lumps" ...
They also help reduce the risks of infections, insisting on measures such as hand washing, hydration, regular and moderate physical exercise and avoiding crowds in closed environments. At the time of carrying out the treatment, as various drugs are used, the work of the pharmacist is essential to do the follow-up and pharmacological surveillance, especially with regard to CAR-T therapies.
CAR-T therapies, advance in the treatment of childhood cancer
The emergence of the so-called CAR-T therapies in the treatment of leukemias and lymphomas is relatively frequent. This type of treatment, due to its complexity, makes it essential to collaboration between hospital pharmacy and community pharmacy, to improve clinical management and continuity of care for children.
Research in the field of oncology, and specifically in pediatric oncology, is producing important advances. LCAR-T therapy is a type of immunotherapy used based on the genetic modification of lymphocytes. These are the cells responsible for regulating the body's immune response. The goal is for them to be able to recognize cancer cells as foreign and to destroy them.
In Spain the first centers to promote this strategy in pediatric patients were the Hospital Clinic and Sant Joan de Déu in Barcelona. In June 2020, the La Paz University Hospital, through its Pediatric Hemato-Oncology Service, reported that it had discharged the first pediatric patient treated in the Community of Madrid with CAR-T cells, an 11-year-old boy from age.
Applications at the service of families
Silvana Briones, a student at the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM) has received a scholarship to develop a solidarity project to raise awareness about childhood and youth cancer, which includes psychological help for those who suffer from it. Is about the Mi RiquezAPP mobile application. This idea has its seed in the Riqueza de Vivir project, run by the Aragon Association of Children with Cancer.
The initiative of Silvana Briones, a Biochemistry student, has been one of the winners of the Ford College Community Challenge Sponsor science. The application will provide content of interest about childhood cancer, testimonials from patients and families. In addition, it has a science section and interviews with researchers. With it you access a network of volunteers who provide specialized psychological support to patients and their families.
The benefits of the solidarity application will go entirely to cancer patient associations. As the developer of the idea explains, the objective is to offer a psychological help service, for which it has the support of the Children with Cancer Foundation.