HP Lin

Abstract

In the new millennium, childhood cancer is likely to become more important as a child health problem in countries where infection and malnutrituon assume lesser importance. The remarkable successes achieved over the past 50 years in the treatment of paediatric malignancy have resulted in the cure of most types of childhood cancer. In many cases it is even possible to refine treatment so that therapy in selected early localised tumours with good prognostic features could be reduced without sacrificing excellent results and more intensive treatment reserved for high-risk cancers. This article gives a brief review of the current results of treatment of the spectrum of childhood cancers. Efforts at refinements of treatment are pointed out. Long-term effects of therapy relating to major organ systems as well as risks of second cancers and the psychological cost of cure are briefly discussed. Future challenges are posed for the new millennium to achieve the ultimate goal of cure which is a full restoration of normal health, not just an elimination of disease.

踏入新世紀，當感染和營養不良已不再是影響兒童健康的主要問題，腫瘤對兒童健康的影響變得日益重要。過去五十年，兒童惡性腫瘤的治療取得了很大進展，可治癒多種兒童腫瘤。在許多病例中，甚至可以精選治療方案，在不影響治療效果及保留對高危腫瘤的深切治療的情況下，減少對有良好預後的早期定位腫瘤的治療。本文對兒童腫瘤的治療現狀作一綜述。還將討論精選治療方案的效果，長期治療對身體重要器官的影響，發生第二種腫瘤的高危因素以及治癒的心理花費，將來面臨的挑戰和最終治療的目的，不再僅僅是治癒疾病，而是要恢復患兒的身體健康。