Screening Of Infants And Mortality Essay

Glioblastoma (pronounced like gleO blastoma) is an incurable brain cancer,Survival rate is usually measured in months.This became a word that was instantly defined, researched, dissected, feared, and tried to comprehend and understand by family,friends and acquaintances of Larry McKee (McKee)who was personally affected from this single word, it was quickly added to their vocabulary, because of the of the events that transpired on October 22, 2011 that forever changed lives “Glioblastomas are tumors that arise from the astrocytes- the star-shaped cells that make up the “glue-like,” or supportive tissue of the brain. These tumors are usually highly malignant (cancerous) because the cells reproduce quickly and they are supported by a large network of blood vessels.”(A.B.T A..) He was diagnosed with stage four.

Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive form of malignant brain cancer in adults. On average, 8 of every 100,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with glioblastoma every year – representing approximately 2% of all cancers diagnosed [1]. Glioblastoma tumors form when astrocytes, star-shaped cells which support and protect the brain, re-enter the cell cycle and start to rapidly divide. Because the brain is supported by a large network of blood vessels, tumors grow quickly and are difficult to remove surgically. Present treatments for glioblastoma are limited to surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy; however, despite these interventions tumors are likely to regrow. Consequently, typical survival time following glioblastoma diagnosis is less than 2 years.

The American cancer society estimated that 18,500 people would be diagnosed with brain tumor and those 12,760 men and women would die of brain cancer in 2005.The National Cancer Institute (NCI) estimated that 22,070 new cases of brain and other central nervous system (CNS) cancers would be diagnosed in the United States in 2009. The American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA) clarifies this statistic further by estimating that 62,930 new cases of primary brain tumors would be diagnosed in 2010. By the year 2030, there will be 26 million new cases, and the death toll will reach to around 1.7 million people. According to World Health Organization (WHO), there are more than 120 types of brain tumors.

Neuroblastoma was Dr. Audrey Evan’s main point of medical research, which is one of the most common cancers in children and the most common in infancy. Neuroblastoma is a

Screening refers to the testing of people without signs or symptoms for a disease or condition, with the aim of reducing their future risk of ill health or of giving them information about their risk. [1,2] Currently, there is great diversity and discordance among screening programs across Canada, with significant variation in screening policies and practices across the jurisdictions. Newborns screening in Ontario test for 29 disorders. British Columbia and Yukon test for 22 disorders, while Alberta and Northwest Territories test for 17. At least 30 disorders are screened in Saskatchewan, while Manitoba tests for upward of 40. [3]

Ependymoma is a type of brain tumor and while it is rare in adults, accounting for 2-3% of brain tumors, ependymoma is mainly found in children and accounts for around 5% of all childhood brain cancers (American Cancer Society [ACS], 2014, January 31; American Brain Tumor Association [ABTA], n.d.). The survival rate of patients with ependymoma who have survived five years after their tumor is detected is 75% Tumors occur when cells grow to excess and form a mass. While some tumors are benign, meaning that they are harmless, others are malignant, or cancerous. Ependymoma is a malignant cancerous brain tumor (“American Society of Clinical Oncology [ASCO]– Childhood,” n.d.). The tumor appears as soft, grey or red tumors and could comprise of cysts or mineral calcifications.

Glioma is a solid primary tumour that starts in the brain and has a very high mortality rate. Brain tumours are most common in adults but can also affect children. There are two types of tumours one type is called the low-grade tumour and this is the slow growing tumours that are referred to as non-malignant. High-grade tumours are fast growing and are referred to as malignant tumours. However even though there are different grades they both have the potential to cause harm. The high grade which are cancerous are the most difficult to treat this is because of highly vascularized nature of the tumour. Treating high-grade gliomas requires specific alterations within the cells. Patients who suffer from a brain tumour will have many symptoms.

Cancer is an exceptionally uncommon infection in kids. Every year about eight thousand children are identified to have some type of cancer (Cancer.org). Evidently, the Cancer.org site identifies that due to the recent advances in medical treatment a number of these children have been cured. Notwithstanding, there have been great improvements in survival rates with increases of the number of children beating pediatric cancer increasing daily, and these have been accomplished using chemotherapy and national and global clinical trials. Today with more than sixty percent of youngsters identified to have cancer cured by surgery, chemotherapy,

Brain tumors - Scientists still don't understand what exactly causes meningiomas - a type of relatively common benign (usually asymptomatic) brain tumor. It has been observed that their occurrence is more severe among pregnant women. In 2012, a report authored by researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine—published in the official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons—revealed that the higher rates of symptomatic meningiomas among pregnant females is likely caused by "hemodynamic changes." Scientists studied extensive medical records from the university and identified 17 cases of women who were operated for

tumours develop in the cells of the retina, the light sensitive lining of the eye (1) (see figure 1). The cancer develops due to the loss or mutation of both of the Rb genes within a retinal cell and can be inherited or sporadic. With the inherited form, sufferers have a germline mutation of the Rb gene, making most cases bilateral, but with the sporadic form the first ‘hit’ occurs randomly in a retinal cell, hence the majority of cases are unilateral. The number of infants diagnosed with retinoblastoma has doubled over the past forty years (2) with the disease now being

If the patient decides to continue with the pregnancy, there are many screening steps required for acceptable management of the disease. Ultrasonography of the fetus should be used throughout gestation, with a focus on the ocular structures. Neonatal magnetic resonance imaging has also been developed at some centers, which may allow to be more sensitive in detecting smaller calcifications. However, the method of magnetic resonance imagining in the fetus has not been studied enough in the context of a cancer risk fetus in regards to fetus safety. Some experts suggest that there should be early induction of the newborn, if they have been identified as “harboring high-risk features” on screening tests. However, this approach is not accepted with all experts in the USA. Therefore, this decision should be made on a case by case basis between all expert physicians involved in their respective fields (Gombos, 2012).

Common malignant brain cancers increase significantly according to statistical data collected by the National Cancer Institute. In 1984, the annual incidence rates of primary brain tumor and primary brain lymphoma also increased notably, the rate of lymphoma almost tripling,

1. Leukemias (blood cancers) and brain cancers combined account for more than half of all new cases of pediatric cancer.

Hepatoblastoma (HB) is a rare tumor comprising only around 1% of all pediatric malignancies (1, 2), with an incidence of 9.8 and 6.1 per million in age groups under 1 year and 1 – 4 years respectively (3–5). However, HB is the most common malignant embryonal liver tumor in the pediatric population and the incidence is increasing at a rate of 1.2-1.5 cases per million each year, due to the potent risk factor of rising

Retinoblastoma is a malignant cancer of the eye manifesting primarily in children, with more than 90% of the cases present in those under the age of five (1). The cancer affects the immature retinoblast cells of the retina, the light sensitive membrane that connects the optic nerve with the brain, creating visual images. During gestation and early life, retinoblasts proliferate to produce cells to form the retina. As children age, differentiation takes place and the cells