Today is National Children's Day. Our great political leader and the father of the nation, Bangabandhu, was born on 17 March 1920 at Tungipara in Gopalganj district. He was very fond of children and did a lot for their rights and welfare, which is why his birth date is celebrated as National Children's Day.

Today, let's learn about an unpleasant but critical issue 'Childhood Cancer'. Cancer is the second leading cause of child death (different types of accidents are the cause of most deaths of children).

Cancer diagnosis is upsetting for anyone at any age. But when it is found in children, it becomes more heartbreaking.

Children who are from 0-14 may suffer from different types of cancer. The most common childhood cancers are:

• Leukemia (cancer of the blood and bone marrow)
• Neuroblastoma (cancer of the nerve cells in a developing fetus)
• Brain and spinal cord tumors
• Bone cancer
• Wilms tumor (cancer of the kidney)
• Lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes or lymph tissue)
• Rhabdomyosarcoma (cancer of the skeletal muscle)
• Retinoblastoma (cancer of the eye)

What causes cancer in children?
Mostly, the cause of cancer in children is unknown. At the same time, like adult cancer, childhood cancer is not caused due to lifestyle or diet. The inherited gene from parents to children causes some cancers. The changes in genes, Down syndrome, infections, and exposure to some chemicals may cause childhood cancer.

Is it curable?
According to the World Health Organization, our treatment has significantly advanced. The recovery rate is more than 80% in high-income countries and less than 30% in low—and middle-income countries.

References:

• https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/introducing-bangabandhu-our-children-386318
  
• https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer-in-children
  
• https://www.cancer.gov/types/childhood-cancers
  
• https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/cancer-in-children/types-of-childhood-cancers.html#:~:text=common%20in%20adults.-,Leukemia,acute%20myeloid%20leukemia%20(AML).
  
• https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000845.htm#:~:text=Your%20child's%20cancer%20care%20team,with%20cancer%20can%20be%20cured.
  
• https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/childrens-cancer/about
  
• https://www.childrenwithcancer.org.uk/childhood-cancer-info/understanding-cancer/causes-childhood-cancer/