With age, prostate volume naturally increases and can cause urinary problems. The symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy are often troublesome, but many men are slow to see. However, effective treatments exist.

When the prostate enlarges, it is called an adenoma, hyperplasia or hypertrophy of the prostate. This natural increase in the volume of the prostate affects two thirds of men over 50 years. When the disorder is diagnosed by a doctor or urologist, four therapeutic approaches can be proposed.

1. Simple monitoring

When the patient feels no discomfort in his daily life, the urologist may offer a simple monitoring, once a year. The discomfort was evaluated using a standardized questionnaire. This is known also no treatment.
This path is given when the prostate is not too big and it does not to the bladder to empty properly. However, the urologist can give some advice such as avoiding drinking after dinner so as not to get up several times during the night.

2. Drug treatments

In France, 800,000 men take daily medication to alleviate symptoms resulting from hypertrophy. There are three classes of drugs that may be prescribed alone or in combination. Three classes of drugs are reimbursed by Social Security:

• Plant extracts with proven efficacy such as Serenoa repens or palm of Florida, or Pygeum africanum and Prunus Africana. These drugs are well tolerated and have little or no side effects;
• Alpha blockers that affect muscle tone and attack the contractions responsible for 60% of urinary obstruction. Their main advantage is their speed of action. They can cause side effects often characterized by dizziness. At sex, the rare disorders are observed a decrease in sperm count;
• Inhibitors of 5 alpha-reductase that hormone action tends to deflate the gland. They allow a patient out of two, a volume reduction of 20%. But these are not the most effective, and they are not first-line drugs. They have, moreover side effects in terms of sexuality.

Combinations of drugs that appear effective in 20% of patients prone to aggravations.Thus, the French Urology Association recommends not to prescribe two drugs in case of increased risk, that is to say in the case of an elderly patient, the elevated PSA and prostate particularly large, which symptoms are numerous. An evaluation that is performed often at the second consultation.

3. Surgery: stop the ideas!

Each year 72 000 patients who underwent prostate France. There are three situations where the operation is required: when the bladder empties more completely (residual urine), in case of acute urinary retention (bladder completely blocked) or when drugs are ineffective. Whatever the circumstances, this operation aims to remove the discomfort felt by the patient. In 90% of cases, the adenoma was successfully treated.
Two surgical techniques can be proposed to patients depending on the size of the prostate:

• Transurethral resection (TURP), which uses natural means (or endoscopic) for planing the prostate. This technique for 90% of patients. It is ideal for medium volume prostates;
• The incision (or lithotomy), which involves removing the adenoma in which the surgeon accesses through an incision in the groin. This operation is indicated when the prostate is too big to be planed by natural means. It is now very well controlled, but the hospital is two days longer than when practicing resection.

All operations lasted more than an hour, patients can undergo general anesthesia or local. It’s the anesthesiologist who decides with the patient to the technique that suits him. After surgery, the only side effect is the modification of retrograde ejaculation becomes. During ejaculation, sperm leaves towards the bladder instead of being externalized. It is then removed when the patient urine. This does not mean that the patient becomes helpless, the pleasure and sensations are the same! However, if the patient still wishes to have children, he must notify his urologist to keep the sperm bank.

4. New surgical techniques

Since February 2006, the High Health Authority (HAS) recommends the release of a new technique: radiofrequency thermotherapy and TUNA (transurethral needle ablation). This method, intermediate between drugs and surgery is indicated for patients with benign prostate symptoms without complications. The potential number of patients is estimated to HAS by 100,000 per year. The method uses waves that heat the prostate to 100 ° C. This temperature rise leads to necrosis of adenoma. For patients who do not respond to drug therapy and who have no complications, this technique is advantageous. Contrary to surgical methods, radiofrequency never causes retrograde ejaculation and side effects are very rare.

Finally, two techniques using lasers improve surgical management with a much shorter hospitalization. The patient entered the morning, goes to a night out. Second advantage of these lasers is to allow to operate more easily with less risk, patients who are taking anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents under. For more information on these techniques, find the interview of Prof. Bertrand Lukacs, a urologist at the Tenon Hospital in Paris.

The prostate is not a disease, is a gland located below the bladder, that only men have. The prostate is traversed by the urethra, which is the channel through which flows the urine from the bladder to the urethral opening. When you’re healthy, you do not realize that you have a prostate. However, when the prostate is sick you have problems with urination, which means urinating in medical jargon.

There are three major prostate diseases:

• Prostatitis means an infection of the prostate. This infection occurs most often in young men;
• If the prostate gets too large, it means the disease by benign prostatic hyperplasia (adenoma mean anomaly of a gland) or benign prostatic hypertrophy (hypertrophy means excessive increase in the volume of an organ). In common parlance, people who have problems urinating because their prostate is too large and compresses the urethra say “I prostate”;
• Finally, the prostate cancer is common, especially after age 50. But it is not necessarily bad if it detects it early enough.

The review examines the prostate is called digital rectal examination (DRE in medical jargon). Rectal rectum comes from, which means that part of the intestine located just before the anus. To make a rectal examination, the doctor inserts his index finger cot covered with a petroleum jelly impregnated into the anus of the patient lying on his back, legs bent. The prostate can be palpated when the fingertip. This test is painless, but can be experienced as unpleasant for many people because it is an intimate place where the finger penetrates.

Adenoma and cancer become more frequent from 50 years. It is therefore important that you examine the prostate once a year from that age, that is to say to the doctor perform a DRE every year. If in your family, there have been several cases of prostate cancer, it is necessary to conduct this study from the age of 40 years. Of course, if you have trouble urinating or during sex, a review is necessary. The medical specialist who deals with this kind of problem is a urologist.

After 50 years, two out of three men suffering from urinary disorders associated with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). With age, the natural increase of prostate volume was sometimes heavy consequences in everyday life. What symptoms? When should you consult? … Doctissimo an update.

“I have prostate cancer,” spent 50 years many men use this term to mean that they have difficulty urinating. These urinary symptoms are often caused by benign prostatic hypertrophy. If the symptoms can vary from one patient to another, you should consult as soon as the discomfort settles.

1. Benign prostate disorders variables

Benign prostate is still characterized by a change in how to urinate. ”I find it hard to urinate,” “I often feel,” “I can hardly hold me” or “I have leaks,” these are the complaints of the men with their prostate. Indeed, when the prostate grows, it compresses the urinary tract and may cause trouble. The doctors call them TUBA for lower urinary tract disorders including bladder, urethra and prostate. There are generally two types of symptoms:

• Irritative urinary disorders, the most common, are characterized by urinary frequency – or increasing the frequency needs to go to the bathroom. The patient will urinate more often and it can awaken several times during the night. He also struggling to retain.These disorders are often the reason for consultation because the patient sees his quality of life deteriorate;
• Obstructive urinary problems, including dysuria – or decrease the strength of urinary stream – is the main symptom. The patient also has difficulty in urination due to narrowing of the diameter of the urethra. Urination is often followed by a sensation of incomplete emptying “the patient still wants to urinate, the following are frequently wet by dribbling or leakage. But sometimes, when the prostate is really big, the patient can not urinate at all. This is called urinary retention, this complication affects 5% of cases.

But for some, the adenoma (or benign prostatic hypertrophy) is without pathological consequence. Contrary to popular belief, the severity of urinary symptoms is not related to prostate volume. While patients with urinary problems have prostate of normal size, others have an enlarged prostate but no disorder. Whatever your situation, you’re feeling when you feel embarrassed by possible disturbances. But when it affects your quality of life should be consulted.

2. BPH: a relatively simple diagnostic

The first step is naturally to go to their GP who can refer her to a urologist. The first review includes an examination and a rectal examination. The examination measures the echoes of the disturbances on the quality of life of the patient. It comes in the form of a self-administered questionnaire called I-PSS (International Prostate Symptom Score). It will be renewed with each visit to measure treatment efficacy monitoring. If possible, it is advisable to keep a voiding diary before the visit, the doctor will appreciate even more the severity of the disorder.

The second part, feared wrongly, is a digital rectal exam allows the physician to palpate the prostate with a finger through the rectum. DRE has two interests: to measure the volume of the prostate and rule out cancer. It is unpleasant but not painful.

After you have examined and questioned, the doctor or urologist will advise you on the findings of this initial review. It’s also time to ask all the questions that torment you. At the end of the consultation, it explains why the additional tests will involve.

3. BPH: Additional tests

Following the first consultation, the GP or urologist prescribe three additional tests:

• The urinalysis and urine cytology examination, the urinalysis can rule out urinary tract infections;
• Ultrasonography of the urinary tract can visualize the prostate, bladder and kidneys.The results of this ultrasound can find a suitable treatment for disorders of the patient or to suggest surgery if necessary;
• The blood test is intended to adjust the level of PSA (prostate specific antigen) to rule out prostate cancer.

Following these three examinations, the patient consults the urologist for a second time, usually one month after the first consultation. Three options are then considered in relation to patients. A simple oversight can be given if the patient experiences no hardship. Medications may be enough to relieve the troubles if affect their lives. Where necessary, the urologist may suggest surgery.

This natural increase in the volume of the prostate can sometimes cause bothersome symptoms. Despite these problems, many men are slow to see.

When the prostate enlarges, it is called benign prostatic hyperplasia or hypertrophy or hyperplasia benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Doctissimo an update on the disease natural age-related.

1. The prostate enlarges with age

The prostate is a gland located below the bladder and passes through the urethra. It is part of the reproductive system of man, as well as the penis or testicles. The prostate’s role is to produce seminal fluid in the composition of semen. ”Small at birth, it grows until puberty is a secondary sexual organ under the influence of hormones, namely, that of testosterone. The volume stabilizes in adulthood but tends to increase again from 40 years “says Professor Desgrandchamps Francis Hospital Saint-Louis (Paris).

This is called an adenoma, hypertrophy or hyperplasia benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), three phrases that have the same meaning. Leaving aside the medical jargon, the men say rather “I have prostate.

2. Hypertrophy of the prostate: Who is affected?

Two thirds of men over 50 suffer from the consequences of natural magnification of their prostate. As it passes through the urethra, the tube that carries urine to the outside, increasing the volume of the prostate causes urinary problems.

In France, nearly 800,000 take medication against benign prostate and 72 000 are made each year. But you can not really speak because of illness according to Professor Desgrandchamps “to have an enlarged prostate when you get older, it’s like to have white hair, it’s normal! No wonder then that 60% of men aged 60, 70% of men aged 70 and 80% of men aged 80, have an enlarged prostate.

3. Not to be confused with prostate cancer

As we explained above, benign prostate is a natural manifestation of age-related. We can talk in this case benign tumor. Affecting nearly 70% of men, benign prostatic hyperplasia has nothing to do with prostate cancer of which there are 60,000 new cases annually. Adenoma Benin does not degenerate into cancer.

These two diseases are totally different and unrelated. Adenoma grows more in the central part of the prostate, while cancer or malignant tumor develops in the peripheral zone. However, it may happen that they coexist in the same patient.

Benign prostate should not be confused with prostatitis. Prostatitis is an inflammation of infectious origin. It results in high fever and urinary problems. A simple antibiotic treatment sufficient to treat it.

With more than 40 000 new cases per year, prostate cancer is the most common cancer of men in France before the lung cancer. But its frequency varies a lot with age.Discover what you should know about this disease?

The number of new cases annually is estimated at 36.5 per 100 000 men. Thus, a man about 9 present a clinical form of the disease during his lifetime. In reality, this cancer rarely occurs before 40-50 years and most cases occur between 60 and 90 years. The average age of detection of this tumor is 73 years.

1. A support age-appropriate

These variations in the incidence of this cancer according to age are important to consider because they affect the conduct diagnostic and therapeutic. As the development of prostate cancer is often slow even in the absence of treatment and that many of these tumors may remain silent throughout life, the strategies of care proposed must indeed be modulated by life expectancy patients. Which of course is not identical to 60 or 90 years. Autopsy data show that 20% of prostates contain cancerous lesions at age 45 and over 70 to 80% at age 80.

2. Increasing in Western countries

A dramatic increase in new cases of prostate cancer has been detected in recent years in Western countries. The number of cases have nearly doubled in the United States over the past five years. It seems that this boom is not unrelated to the progress of screening. The use of blood markers such as prostate specific antigen or PSA can detect cancer or small size beginners that would previously have gone unnoticed.

The prostate cancer was not the same frequency in all countries. It is common in the United States, especially among African Americans who are particularly affected by this tumor, as well as Western Europe, but is less common in Eastern Europe and Asia.

There is an increasing number of these cancers among Asian immigrants living in the U.S. compared to figures cited in their compatriots remained in their home countries.This observation suggests that environmental factors could come into play in the development of this tumor, some of which may be related to food. Exposure to toxic or sexual habits may also influence its occurrence.

But genetic factors are also involved, because this cancer is two to three times more common among first-degree relatives of male patients.

3. A decrease in mortality in North America

In France, the prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men (11% of all cancer deaths) after lung cancer and before the colon and rectum. Beyond 70 years, it is the primary reason for cancer deaths.

However, this tumor has been significant progress in treatment and only one third of men with a clinical form of prostate cancer will die of it.

In some countries in North America, where the determination of prostatic marker PSA for diagnosis is wide spread, mortality from cervical cancer has declined recently. It thus fell 23% in Quebec compared to the early 1990s.

Small male gland, prostate gland often remains unnoticed. Until urination problems occur in humans of a certain age. Located in the heart of the urinary and genital systems, it is involved in reproduction.

Found only in humans, the prostate is composed of smooth muscle and glandular tissue. It surrounds the first part of the urethra just below the bladder. With a diameter of about 38 millimeters, weighs in young men twenty grams.

1. An essential role in reproduction

The prostate secretes a clear fluid that flows into the urethra during sexual arousal. This alkaline liquid before the sperm and reduces the acidity of vaginal secretions so it does not cause the destruction of them.

These are the seminal vesicles and prostate that produce seminal fluid as well. Mixing with sperm from the testicle to the prostate, the sperm then passes through the urethra during ejaculation.

2. At the crossroads of the urinary and genital systems

Because of its location, prostate problems can cause urinary symptoms. Indeed it surrounds the initial part of the urethra, the tube through which urine and ending at the end of the penis.

In case of increase in volume, the prostate can compress the channel and make urination difficult (decreased strength of the jet, frequent urination).

A rectal examination allows the physician to assess the volume and flexibility of the prostate. An excessive size, irregular contours and tightening are all indicators that enable early detection of disease of the gland: the infection of the prostate or prostatitis in benign prostatic hyperplasia or more serious cancer prostate.

Cancer is the disease that is most afraid, because no one can estimate it away. The most common cancers in women are breast (30%), uterus (12%) and ovarian (4%).More than any other, these cancers can be prevented through regular screening and some tips for healthy living.

In a poll published in Ifop West France in November 2000, cancer was identified as the disease that the French fear most. He is quoted in the top 63%, far ahead of AIDS (39%), cardiovascular (26%), Alzheimer’s disease (28%), Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (23%) and meningitis (11%). The fear of cancer appears homogeneous whatever the age or sex. Everyone feels potentially affected. Thus, it is now useful to recall some prevention tips.

1. The importance of screening

For most cancers of women, the importance of screening is vital. More cancer is detected early, the chances of cure are high. Through screening mammography, 50% of breast cancers are detected at early stages of development when the tumor is less than 2 cm. In addition to an increased chance of cure, early diagnosis allows use of less aggressive treatment. For this cancer, we recommend regular monitoring by your doctor or your gynecologist every six months or every year in excess of thirty years and a mammogram every two years beyond age 50. Every month, you should perform a self examination of your breasts.

On cancer of the cervix uteri, cervical smear tests have reduced mortality by 70% in industrialized countries. And considering that nearly 90% of cancer deaths from cervical cancer could be prevented by regular screening. You need to smear every 3 years after two normal examinations conducted one year apart. At what age? It is advisable to start between 20 to 25 years to 70 years and over, until you have a sex life.

Concerning ovarian cancer, early detection is problematic. The disease is often detected at an advanced stage. In the early stages, the disease is symptom-free and only constipation, bloating can be a warning …. Mostly, these cysts are not serious but the distinction between malignant and benign cysts remains difficult without surgical intervention.

2. Adopting a healthy lifestyle

Many studies link a healthy lifestyle with a reduced risk of developing cancer. The advice most often cited highlight the benefits of a healthy diet, regular exercise and the need to stop smoking.

The significantly higher incidence of breast cancer in developed countries has led researchers to look at the Polish influence of diet. How is it that the Congolese have a risk of breast cancer eight times less important than American? According to this study, caloric intake directly affects the concentration of ovarian hormones: estrogen and progesterone produced during the menstrual cycle. It appears that high concentrations were associated with increased incidence of breast cancer.

The authors believe that “An increase in physical activity and reduced caloric intake may thus lead to lower concentrations of progesterone and estrogen, leading to a reduced risk of breast cancer.”

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts evaluated the association between intake of carotenoids and vitamin A on incidence of ovarian cancer. The study focused on 327 patients and 3129 female non-patients. After taking into account other risk factors, it appears that women with diets richest (more than 24 000 micro grams per week) in lutein / zeaxanthin (two carotenoids) have a reduced risk of cancer of theovarian 40%. Zeaxanthin is a pigment that gives the corn, egg yolk and poultry skin yellow color.

This recent study confirms the inverse relationship between intake of carotenoids and risk of ovarian cancer.

Researchers at Boston University for four years followed 39 322 apparently healthy women with a mean age of 45. During this period, 411 women were suffering from breast cancer. According to their study, exercise alone does not constitute a uniform benefit for prevention of this cancer. Only postmenopausal women seem to enjoy the benefits of regular physical activity and intensive.

Besides its harmful effect on lung cancer, smoking is a risk factor for other cancers such as ovarian cancer, uterine or breast cancer, especially during pregnancy, period of growth and differentiation mammaire6 tissue. Other product constituting a risk factor for the development of ovarian cancer in women before menopause: coffee.

So ladies, now adopt a balanced diet rich in green vegetables, ban smoking and practicing regular physical activity. And especially do not push your appointment with your gynecologist. The screening is your best ally.

Ovarian cancer ranks fifth among cancers in women in France, with 4,000 new cases per year. But his prognosis is very dark because it is often discovered at a late stage.Panorama of a little known disease.

Ovarian cancer is relatively uncommon. Too often discovered at a late stage, this cancer is difficult to treat.

1. A relatively uncommon cancer

Ovarian cancer is relatively rare. It affects about one in 70 women. This is the fifth female cancer after breast, colon, uterus and stomach. Currently, about 4,000 new cases per year are diagnosed each year in France.
In comparison, nearly 50 000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year in French. In most cases, this cancer for women over 45 years. It occurs mostly between 60 and 70.
There are three main types of ovarian cancer. The cancer starts in the epithelial cells of the epithelium, the envelope that covers the ovaries: it usually affects women over 50 years is the most frequent (90% of cases) and the most lethal cancers ovarian cancer.Germ cell tumors start, they, for their part in the egg-producing cells and affects mostly young women. Stromal cell tumors develop in the connective tissue cells that bind and support the various elements of the ovary. They are mainly found among the more than 50 years.

2. Belated discovery of ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer does not manifest symptoms early so that the specific diagnosis is often made at an advanced stage.

• In stage 1, the cancer is limited to one or both ovaries without affecting other organs;
• In Stage 2, the cancer has spread to other organs near the ovaries within the pelvis (uterus, fallopian tubes …);
• In Stage 3, the cancer has spread to other parts of the abdomen or lymph nodes;
• In stage 4, it has spread to the liver or outside of the abdomen.

Stages 3 and 4 are advanced forms of cancer of the ovary. In 70% of cases, ovarian cancer is detected at an advanced stage, often at stage 3. Ovarian cancer develops most often without attracting attention. Experts estimate that a tumor may reach a height of 10 cm and do not cause symptoms. Sometimes the disease is discovered incidentally during a routine pelvic examination or during further examinations to search for other ailments.

A recent study showed however that 43% of women with ovarian cancer had a combination of three early symptoms: increased abdominal girth, bloating, urinary signs.

2. Poor prognosis

As it is detected late, ovarian cancer has a poor prognosis. Each year, 3,500 French die. The survival rate of ovarian cancer is just over 30% at 5 years, whereas for breast cancer, it is about 75% at 5 years.

However, if diagnosed early while the tumor and limited to one or both ovaries, the chances of recovery are 90% at 5 years. Only problem: there is still no accurate test to detect ovarian cancer at an early stage, contrary to what happens in cases of breast or uterus. For now, the only condition of early diagnosis is a very regular monitoring by a gynecologist. Do not hesitate to consult before the occurrence of unusual symptoms – may be normal or related to a host of other diseases-that persist more than three weeks: abdominal pain, bloating, difficulty eating, nausea, change in bowel habits,needs frequent or urgent urination, fatigue, unexplained weight loss …

Each year nearly 700 new cancer cases are diagnosed among patients 15 to 19 years. Right in adolescence, the consequences of the disease are particularly at more than one way. That is why the Cancer Plan 2009-2013 emphasizes a personalized care.

When illness strikes during adolescence, it occurs during a period of profound upheaval. This implies special care, intends to take into account the new Cancer Plan.

1. Adolescent cancer: a particular entity

Although they are rare in adolescence, cancers are the third leading cause of death in this age group, behind accidents and suicides. These cancers are different from those of the child:

• Lymphomas (22.9%);
• Carcinomas and malignant epithelial tumors (malignant melanomas, carcinomas of the thyroid …) (19.5%);
• Bone sarcomas and extra-osseous (17.6%);
• Germ cell tumors (12.7%);
• Leukemia (11.9%);
• Tumors of the central nervous system (10.6%).

There are also gender differences (acute leukemia, malignant non-Hodgkin lymphomas, osteosarcomas and gonadal germ cell tumors are more prevalent among boys and malignant melanoma and carcinoma of the thyroid more prevalent among girls).

If the overall survival rate was 74.5% at 5 years, it varies greatly depending on the tumor: survival at 5 years of an adolescent with rhabdomyosarcoma is estimated at 41.7%, while it reached 100% for thyroid cancer.

Often related to childhood cancers, cancers of adolescents have not received the same treatment advances as children. From 1975 to 1997, the French and U.S. data indicate that 5-year survival has increased on average by over 1.5% per year among children aged 0-14 years at diagnosis, 0.9% cons year only in adolescents (and 0.6% per year for young adults 20 to 24). A difference that is partly explained by a lesser inclusion in clinical trials, but also a poorer treatment monitoring at a period of questioning of authority.

2. Adolescent cancer: a special care

During this phase of transition from childhood to adulthood, becoming independent through major physical and emotional upheaval, for a questioning of authority and risk taking. The occurrence of the disease at that time of life is so difficult to manage. By 1998, the first general statements of cancer patients, organized by the National League against Cancer, had to express the need for specific support to the therapeutic and counseling for young patients.

Changing the image induced by cancer treatments (pallor, anorexia, alopecia …) can have a significant impact on social relations with other teenagers, the beginning of life love and sex … The disease and its consequences can also hamper the project life of adolescents: How one day have children in the event of impairment of fertility? How to question his choice of study or career because of treatment? …

All these parameters, some of which are unique to adolescence, are not always correctly perceived by health professionals, focused solely on recovery. Patients may get the impression of not being understood, and not properly follow its treatments.

3. A priority of the Cancer Plan 2009-2013

January 29, 2010 meeting at the National Cancer Institute (INCA), institutions, associations and health professionals have stressed the importance of specific management of adolescent3. Present at this meeting, the Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot has said: “At the age when one is built, the test of cancer can be a real break. We must single out the accompaniment of teenagers: they make treatment trials more accessible, develop collaborations between pediatric and adult medicine, deliver tailored information throughout the management and in particular on the impact of cancer – Fertility, sexual and emotional life, education, professional life - at the announcement of the disease, it must be very clear in order to anticipate the difficulties in treatment. ”

A partnership agreement between INCA and the AP-HM (Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Marseille), was signed on this occasion, to support the project EMA (Mediterranean Area Youth), which incorporates a dedicated teens facing cancer. This innovative project, which will be based in Marseille, particularly propose to adolescents with cancer (excluding acute phase) a psychosocial care. This is for Marcel Rufo, through this project, to accompany the teenager to “cure his recovery to start in life.”Roselyne Bachelot hoped that the Cancer Plan allows many other structures similar to that of Marseilles to see the day.

Each year approximately 1800 children with cancer in France, 1 child in 600.Treatment and support of these young patients have improved but still inadequate, according to associations of families of patients. On the occasion of World Cancer Day of the Child to be held on February 15, Doctissimo takes stock of the current situation.

Cancers of young people under 15 years are rare and represent only 1% of all cancers. They are often ignored and their support is even more difficult than the sophisticated support for adults is not necessarily appropriate for younger children.

1. The childhood cancer is rare

Each year approximately 1800 children and adolescents with cancer, although the cure rate has increased over the past 30 years, from 25% to 80%. This is the second leading cause of death in children older than 1 year (after accidents), resulting in 500 deaths per year.

Unlike adults, environmental factors are not involved in the development of pediatric cancers. However, we can discuss the influence of radiation and certain chemical agents to which the woman is exposed before or during pregnancy and the possible role of infectious agents like HIV or hepatitis B.

The tumor in children has the feature to expand rapidly and the child remains in good general health. Once the diagnosis is made, the therapy is developed, ideally in a multidisciplinary and pediatric specialists.

2. A difficult management of young patients

Cancers in children are treated the same as those in adults: surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy … But the treatment must be tailored to young patients. The use of radiation must be very finely controlled: patients are still growing, the rays have deleterious effects on cartilage or the endocrine system. The cranial radiation may also cause intellectual sequelae. Children are also much more sensitive to chemotherapy, which explains the higher chances of cure.

The cure rate for childhood cancer has tripled in thirty years and is currently about 80% against a little over 50% in adults. The child is declared in full remission when there is no trace of tumor detected by clinical examination or imaging. It must also be no more abnormalities in the bone marrow, blood and / or urine. It speaks of healing once the period of relapse is complete: it ranges from 1 to 10 years, depending on the type and severity of cancer.

However, other diseases may appear later: In addition to recidivism, there are risks of long-term toxicity. The treatment imposed to fight cancer can affect the body either temporarily or permanently.

The management of pain is difficult: drugs for adults does not necessarily work on the youngest. They are growing and do not currently have appropriate drugs and designed by age group. In addition, physicians may face difficulties to relieve a child who may be unable to speak and explain his level of pain.

3. Optimize the support of the child and carers

For the past 30 years, the management of the child and his family has improved thanks to the actions of associations of relatives of patients and the Cancer Plan. However, there remains room for improvement: “The support of the sick child must be more structured so that the family could stay with him. Progress must be made, less than the care and support quality of life, “says Catherine Vergely, the association’s president and CEO UNAPECLE1 association ISIS2. ”We also need better organization about the benefit and education of children,” she adds.

Brothers and sisters also suffer from the fact that one of them is sick. It is still not considered: “We need a project to support the siblings, which is in great pain. There are no hospitals that care for siblings, it is the associations which it entrusts ”says Ms. Vergely.