ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Although most cases of childhood cancer are unlikely to be prevented, by today's standards, most children with cancer can now be cured. However, disparities about survival exist among countries; in Mexico, the overall survival is 49.6%, with 70% of childhood cancers diagnosed at advanced stages. Therefore, parents and caregivers must have optimal knowledge of the early signs and symptoms of childhood malignancies as they are largely non-specific. This study was designed to explore the current knowledge of childhood cancer among parents and caregivers in Mexico and identify the need for education and health promotion in low- and middle-income countries. METHODS: An online survey of 112 parents and caregivers was performed to assess their knowledge of childhood cancer, focusing on the signs and symptoms and early diagnostic strategies. RESULTS: Sixty-nine (61.6%) mothers, 23 (20.5%) fathers, 17 (15.2%) familiar caregivers, and 3 (2.7%) non-familiar caregivers responded. Forty-six (41.1%) respondents said that they knew a child diagnosed with cancer, 92.9% mentioned leukemia as the most common type of cancer among children, the most highly ranked option when asked which sign/symptom they considered as a warning for suspicion was growth/lump in any part of the body, 97.3% considered that an early diagnosis is related to a higher cure rate, and 92.9% expressed the desire to receive reliable information about childhood cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Although parents and caregivers have some knowledge of childhood cancer, there are concepts that should be reinforced to improve their understanding of this group of diseases, as they are the frontline for children to seek medical attention. In the future, the use of tools that help educate more caregivers will strengthen knowledge and contribution regarding this issue and promote the generation of public policies that support the early diagnosis of childhood cancer.
Subject(s)
Caregivers , Neoplasms , Child , Female , Humans , Caregivers/education , Developing Countries , Parents/education , Health Promotion , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Neoplasms/diagnosisABSTRACT
Abstract Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are relative rare, affecting neuroendocrine cells throughout the body. Most tumors are diagnosed at advanced stages. NETs prevalence has increased in the last years but there is little data available in developing countries. The aim of this study was to describe symptoms associated with NETs in patients of the Society for the Fight Against Cancer (SOLCA) in Ecuador from 2005 to 2020; using logistic biplots, in a hospital database, generating binary responses (presence/absence) relevant to this study. The results showed that the mean age was 59 and the study showed no difference in prevalence between genders. NETs were mainly found in lungs (19%), followed by stomach (18%) and skin (9%). Most patients had pathological diagnosis G2 and G3 (30% and 70%, respectively). Symptoms as cough, dyspnea, weight loss, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, hypertensive crisis, distended abdomen and intestinal obstruction had p values <0.05. Additionally, the statistical analysis showed that cough and intestinal obstruction were also common, bearing in mind that patients had most frequent NETs in the lungs and skin. In summary, our results indicate that symptoms of NETs patients were positively associated with lung and skin. Further investigation is needed focusing on the type of NETs and their symptoms in order to establish an early marker for diagnosis.
Resumen Los tumores neuroendocrinos (TNE) son relativamente raros y afectan a las células neuroendocrinas de todo el cuerpo. La mayoría de los tumores se diagnostican en etapas avanzadas. La prevalencia de los TNE ha aumentado en los últimos años, pero hay pocos datos en los países en desarrollo. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar los síntomas asociados a los TNE en pacientes de la Sociedad de Lucha contra el Cáncer (SOLCA) en Ecuador entre 2005 y 2020, utilizando biplots logísticos en una base de datos hospitalaria, generando respuestas binarias (presencia / ausencia) relevantes para este estudio. Los resultados mostraron que la edad promedio era de 59 años y el estudio no encontró diferencias en la prevalencia entre géneros. Los TNE se encontraron con mayor frecuencia en los pulmones (19%), seguidos del estómago (18%) y piel (9%). La mayoría de los pacientes tenían diagnóstico patológico G2 y G3 (30% y 70% respectivamente). Los síntomas como tos, disnea, pérdida de peso, diarrea, estreñimiento, dolor abdominal, dispepsia, crisis hipertensiva, abdomen distendido y obstrucción intestinal tuvieron valores de p <0,05. Además, el análisis estadístico mostró que la tos y la obstrucción intestinal también eran comunes, teniendo en cuenta que los pacientes tenían TNE más frecuentes en los pulmones y la piel. En resumen, nuestros resultados indican que los síntomas de los pacientes con TNE se asociaron positivamente con los pulmones y la piel. Se necesitan más investigaciones que se centren en el tipo de TNE y sus síntomas a fin de establecer un marcador más temprano para el diagnóstico.
ABSTRACT
Objetivo: Caracterizar o perfil clínico e epidemiológico dos pacientes com câncer de cabeça e pescoço atendidos em um hospital universitário. Métodos: Estudo epidemiológico descritivo e retrospectivo de todos os casos de câncer de cabeça e pescoço diagnosticados no período de agosto de 2009 a agosto de 2014 no setor de Otorrinolaringologia do Hospital Universitário Bettina Ferro de Sousa da Universidade Federal do Pará. Resultados: Dos 81 pacientes selecionados, 88,1% apresentaram carcinoma epidermoide como tipo histológico. A média de idade foi de 60,6 anos e 67% deles se declararam fumantes com tempo médio de 30 anos de tabagismo. Os sintomas mais relatados foram dor local (42%), seguida por disfonia (39%). A localização foi predominantemente laríngea em 35 pacientes (46%), seguida por câncer de boca em 15 (19,7%) pacientes e faringe em 13 (17,1%). Houve predomínio do sexo masculino e idade a partir da quinta década de vida. Conclusão: O tipo histológico predominante de carcinoma epidermoide e a forte associação desses tumores com o tabagismo estiveram de acordo com outros trabalhos sobre o câncer de cabeça e pescoço. A alta incidência de disfonia se deu pela predominância da localização laríngea. Exceto pela predominância de localização laríngea em detrimento das lesões de boca, o presente trabalho se mostra de acordo com os dados da literatura brasileira quanto aos aspectos clínicos e epidemiológicos do câncer de cabeça e pescoço.
Objective: To characterize the clinico-epidemiological profile of patients with head and neck cancer treated in a university hospital. Methods: descriptive and retrospective epidemiological study of all cases of head and neck câncer diagnosed in the period of August 2009 to August 2014 in the Otorhinolaryngology department of Hospital Universitário Bettina Ferro de Sousa in Universidade Federal do Pará. Results: Of the 81 patients selected, 88.1% had squamous cell carcinoma as histological type. The mean age was 60.6 years, and 67% of them reported being smokers for an average of 30 years of smoking. The most reported symptoms were local pain (42%), followed by dysphonia (39%). The location was predominantly laryngeal in 35 patients (46%), followed by oral cancer in 15 (19.7%), and pharyngeal in 13 (17.1%) patients. There was a predominance of male gender, and age from the fifth decade of life. Conclusion: The predominant histological type of squamous cell carcinoma and the strong association of these tumors with smoking are consistent with other works on head and neck cancer. The high incidence of dysphonia was due to the prevalence of laryngeal location. This study showed to be in accordance with data from the Brazilian literature regarding the clinical and epidemiological aspects of head and neck cancer, except for the predominance of laryngeal location over mouth lesions.