Childhood cancer

​Every year, 130 to 150 children are diagnosed with cancer in Finland. Approximately one-third of them are treated at the HUCH Children's Hospital.  Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common type of cancer found in children. Treatment usually takes two to two and a half years. Approximately 15 new ALL patients are admitted to the Children's Hospital each year. Malignant brain tumors are the second most common type of cancer that occurs in children. Other types of children's cancers include neuroblastoma, Wilms' tumor (childhood nephroblastoma) and osteosarcoma (bone cancer).

Cancer treatments include chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy in various combinations and stem cell transplantations. Other important forms of care associated with cancer treatment include preventing nausea, pain management, addressing malnutrition, postoperative treatment and infection control. Medical care alone is not sufficient in treating cancer - high-quality nursing is also required. In Finland, the results of cancer treatment are high with 8 out of every 10 children diagnosed with cancer being cured.

Care provided to children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer is broadly based and comprises the patient's entire family. A cancer diagnosis affects every member of the family and radically changes the family's daily routines. Parents typically spend a lot of their time at the hospital with the ill child, and the family members participate in the care of the patient. The hospital personnel are there to help the families adjust, offering the types of support required.

Cancer organizations:

• SYLVA ry (in Finnish)
• Kympin lapset – Association for the parents and friends of children with cancer treated at HUCH (in Finnish)  
• Association for supporting the children on Helsinki Children's Hospital's Ward 10 (in Finnish)
• Cancer Society of Finland