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Children with Cancer Diseases: The Present and a Challenge for...
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Children with Cancer Diseases: The Present and a Challenge for Future

A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067). This special issue belongs to the section "Pediatric Hematology & Oncology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 March 2025) | Viewed by 3804

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Anna Lewandowska

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Healthcare, State Academy of Applied Sciences in Jaroslaw, Czarnieckiego 16 Sreet, 37-500 Jarosław, Poland
Interests: paediatrics; oncology; cancer risk factors; assessment of life quality of cancer patients; social medicine problems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cancer diseases in children and adolescents are considered to be one of the most serious health problems in the world. According to data from the World Health Organization, approximately 400,000 children and adolescents aged 0-19 are diagnosed with cancer each year. The incidence of cancer in developed countries ranges from 110 to 150 children per million, which means that 1 per 600 to 1 per 450 children will develop cancer during the first 15 years of life. In high-income countries where comprehensive services are generally available, more than 80% of children with cancer are cured. It is estimated that in low- and middle-income countries, 15–45% are cured.

Children with cancer experience many comorbid symptoms related to diagnosis and treatment that can profoundly affect their lives. They experience physical and emotional suffering, which affects their well-being and physical fitness, leading to delays or limitation of treatment, influencing the prognosis and deteriorating their physical, mental and social functioning. Cancer changes the life of not only the patient but also their loved ones. It has a great influence on the entire family.

Healthcare workers need to be aware that patients and their families are facing one of the greatest crises in their life with enormous psychosocial implications. Their role is to convey information and hope, and skilfully deal with many emotions that are part of the patient’s experience. Although unable to control the illness, they can provide support in terms of monitoring patients and their families’ response to cancer, but also provide education about the illness and its treatment.

We welcome original research, systematic and scoping reviews, clinical case reports, and commentaries. Manuscripts that highlight interdisciplinary research are especially encouraged.

Dr. Anna Lewandowska
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • children
  • adolescents
  • cancer
  • parents
  • family
  • symptoms
  • needs
  • therapy
  • care

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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14 pages, 1077 KiB  
Article
Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression among Parents of Children with Cancer—A Preliminary Study
by Anna Lewandowska, Tomasz Lewandowski, Anna Bartosiewicz, Katalin Papp, Dana Zrubcová, Mária Šupínová, Aleksandra Stryjkowska-Góra, Barbara Laskowska, Gabriela Joniec and Serap Ejder Apay
Children 2024, 11(10), 1227; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11101227 - 10 Oct 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2262
Abstract
Background: A child’s cancer is a highly stressful experience for the entire family. Childhood cancer disrupts family functioning and is one of the most stressful and challenging events parents face, often beyond their control. Parents play a crucial role in providing emotional support [...] Read more.
Background: A child’s cancer is a highly stressful experience for the entire family. Childhood cancer disrupts family functioning and is one of the most stressful and challenging events parents face, often beyond their control. Parents play a crucial role in providing emotional support to children throughout their illness, and their ability to cope can help reduce the child’s negative emotions. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression among parents of children with cancer. Methods: This cross-sectional study followed the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines and included parents of children undergoing cancer treatment. Convenience sampling was used. The Beck Depression Inventory and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were utilized to assess the parents. Results: This study included 270 participants (73% women, 27% men) with children at an average age of 8.75 ± 4.82 years. Diagnoses included leukemia (53%), lymphoma (29%), and other cancers. On the Beck Depression Inventory, 33% of parents were mildly depressed, 12% moderately depressed, and 32% severely depressed, with an average score of 20.63 ± 12.39 points. The HADS-M scale indicated anxiety at 48.43 ± 20.78%, depression at 45.01 ± 22.8%, and aggression at 54.72 ± 28.71%. Conclusions: Most parents of children with cancer have symptoms of depression and anxiety, which are influenced by the duration of the child’s illness. A strong correlation was observed between the level of anxiety and the tendency for depression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Children with Cancer Diseases: The Present and a Challenge for Future)
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23 pages, 3617 KiB  
Systematic Review
MTHFR Gene Polymorphisms and Cancer Risk in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Savvas Kolanis, Eleni P. Kotanidou, Vasiliki Rengina Tsinopoulou, Elisavet Georgiou, Emmanuel Hatzipantelis, Liana Fidani and Assimina Galli-Tsinopoulou
Children 2025, 12(1), 108; https://doi.org/10.3390/children12010108 - 17 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1170
Abstract
Background/Objectives: MTHFR gene polymorphisms (677C>T and 1298A>C) correlate with various types of cancer across all age groups; however, a small number of studies have included solely children and adolescents. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to present and synthesize [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: MTHFR gene polymorphisms (677C>T and 1298A>C) correlate with various types of cancer across all age groups; however, a small number of studies have included solely children and adolescents. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to present and synthesize all the available evidence on the association between MTHFR gene polymorphisms and the incidence of all types of cancer in children and adolescences. Methods: After a systematic search of all of the available data, original case–control studies involving children or adolescents with a confirmed diagnosis of any type of cancer and a molecular genetic test of MTHFR gene polymorphisms were included. Results: A total of 53 original studies in children and adolescents with cancer were included in the systematic review. Among these, 40 studies reviewed children and adolescents with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), 4 those with Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia (AML), 8 those with central nervous system (CNS) tumors and 3 those with other types of cancer. Children and adolescents with ALL had less frequent T allele sequences (CT and TT variations) of the 677C>T polymorphism compared to a healthy population (OR: 0.85; CI: 0.80–0.91; p < 0.00001). Concerning the 1298A>C polymorphism, the C allele sequences (AC and CC) did not present a statistically significant difference in frequency compared to a healthy population (OR: 1.01; CI: 0.95–1.08; p = 0.69). Conclusions: Children and adolescents with ALL appeared to have the T allele sequences of the 677C>T polymorphism of the MTHFR gene less frequently compared to a healthy population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Children with Cancer Diseases: The Present and a Challenge for Future)
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