State Government intensifies educational actions and mobilizations on childhood and adolescent cancer in Pará
Specialist from the State Health Department (Sespa) explains signs, most common types, and flow of care in the State
September is the month of awareness about childhood and adolescent cancer, symbolized by the golden ribbon, which highlights the importance of early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. The State Department of Public Health of Pará (Sespa) is intensifying educational and mobilization actions on the subject during this period. According to the National Cancer Institute (Inca), cancer in children and adolescents accounts for 1 to 3% of all diagnosed cases, with over eight thousand new registrations per year in Brazil for individuals aged between zero and 19 years.
The pediatric oncologist from Sespa, Alayde Vieira, emphasizes that childhood cancer should not be seen as something distant. "It is important to remember that children can also have cancer, and the earlier the suspicion is raised, the greater the chances of cure. Early diagnosis completely changes the outcome for a child with cancer," she highlighted.
Most common types and warning signs
In Brazil, the most frequent types of cancer in children and adolescents are leukemias, followed by lymphomas and brain tumors. In Pará, the order is reversed: leukemias remain in first place, but brain tumors come next, followed by lymphomas. In adolescents aged 15 and older, thyroid carcinomas are also common.
The symptoms are not always specific, but some signs deserve the attention of parents and guardians. Progressive pallor, persistent fever for more than 15 days, bone pain and lower limb pain, weight loss, increased abdominal volume, purple spots on the body, progressively growing lymph nodes, and excessive fatigue can be indicative. In the case of brain tumors, it is important to observe frequent headaches, vomiting, seizures, strabismus, irritability, delays in motor development, and difficulties walking.
"These signs should not be ignored. The sooner the child is taken to the doctor, the sooner we can refer them for appropriate treatment," the doctor advised.
Treatment and support in Pará
The public health network in the State has almost all modern resources of pediatric oncology, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, and complex surgeries. "We still do not have pediatric bone marrow transplantation, but the State is already advancing in the construction of this unit," explained Alayde Vieira. In Pará, the reference hospitals are the Octávio Lobo Children's Oncology Hospital in Belém, accredited by the Ministry of Health since 2017, and the Regional Hospital of Baixo Amazonas in Santarém, which serves patients from Baixo Amazonas, Tapajós, and Xingu.
Sespa, in partnership with institutions such as the Ronald McDonald Institute and the Brazilian Society of Pediatric Oncology, has been conducting training campaigns aimed at primary care, the entry point of the health system. "It is the professionals of the Family Health Strategy who first notice changes in the child's growth and behavior. They play an essential role in early suspicion and referral for oncological screening," the doctor highlighted.
In Pará, the state oncological screening operates at the Federal University of Pará (UFPA), every Tuesday, from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM, on a walk-in basis. From this first appointment, suspected cases are referred to the reference hospitals.
In 2024, the Octávio Lobo Children's Oncology Hospital recorded 224 new confirmed cases of cancer in children and adolescents. To ensure not only treatment but also support, the unit has a multidisciplinary team made up of doctors, psychologists, nutritionists, speech therapists, physiotherapists, and social workers. "Care goes beyond medical treatment. We have a mourning clinic for families and we also follow children who have completed therapy for up to five years, until they are discharged cured," concluded Alayde Vieira.
