TY - JOUR
T1 - Childhood cancer care beyond the ‘six common and curable types’
T2 - A comparative case series on acute myeloid leukemia in Kenya and the Netherlands
AU - Wijnen, Noa
AU - Klootwijk, Larissa
AU - Gichemi, Alice
AU - Apadet, Lilian
AU - Njuguna, Festus
AU - Klein, Kim
AU - Huibers, Minke
AU - Goemans, Bianca F.
AU - Mostert, Saskia
AU - Kaspers, Gertjan
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Author(s)
PY - 2024/10
Y1 - 2024/10
N2 - Annually, over 400,000 children develop cancer, with the majority living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Survival rates in high-income countries (HICs; ≥ 75%–80%) significantly exceed those in LMICs (< 30%). Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a childhood cancer with high mortality rates in LMICs and is not included in the World Health Organization (WHO)’s ‘six common and curable types of cancer’. This case report explores two pediatric AML cases in Kenya (LMIC) and the Netherlands (HIC), highlighting differences and similarities in both patient journeys. The first case is a 15-year-old Kenyan boy who initially experienced dizziness and fatigue. After repeated blood transfusions without a definitive diagnosis, AML was confirmed via bone marrow aspiration (BMA) 63 days later, and treatment followed the SIOP PODC AML guidelines for LMICs. The second case is a 6-year-old Dutch boy with fatigue and malaise. Initially diagnosed with post-viral bone marrow failure, a BMA performed 61 days after symptom onset revealed AML, and treatment followed the NOPHO-DBH AML-2012 protocol. Both patients faced frequent febrile neutropenia, managed per local guidelines, illustrating the balance between anti-cancer treatment and supportive care. Despite challenges, both boys completed treatment and are in complete remission. This case series highlights the potential for effective AML treatment in resource-constrained settings and underscores the need to address cancers beyond the ‘six common and curable types’.
AB - Annually, over 400,000 children develop cancer, with the majority living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Survival rates in high-income countries (HICs; ≥ 75%–80%) significantly exceed those in LMICs (< 30%). Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a childhood cancer with high mortality rates in LMICs and is not included in the World Health Organization (WHO)’s ‘six common and curable types of cancer’. This case report explores two pediatric AML cases in Kenya (LMIC) and the Netherlands (HIC), highlighting differences and similarities in both patient journeys. The first case is a 15-year-old Kenyan boy who initially experienced dizziness and fatigue. After repeated blood transfusions without a definitive diagnosis, AML was confirmed via bone marrow aspiration (BMA) 63 days later, and treatment followed the SIOP PODC AML guidelines for LMICs. The second case is a 6-year-old Dutch boy with fatigue and malaise. Initially diagnosed with post-viral bone marrow failure, a BMA performed 61 days after symptom onset revealed AML, and treatment followed the NOPHO-DBH AML-2012 protocol. Both patients faced frequent febrile neutropenia, managed per local guidelines, illustrating the balance between anti-cancer treatment and supportive care. Despite challenges, both boys completed treatment and are in complete remission. This case series highlights the potential for effective AML treatment in resource-constrained settings and underscores the need to address cancers beyond the ‘six common and curable types’.
KW - Health services accessibility
KW - Low- and middle-income country
KW - Myeloid leukemia
KW - Pediatric neoplasms
KW - Supportive care
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85204344688&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.apjon.2024.100565
DO - 10.1016/j.apjon.2024.100565
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85204344688
SN - 2347-5625
VL - 11
JO - Asia-Pacific Journal of Oncology Nursing
JF - Asia-Pacific Journal of Oncology Nursing
IS - 10
M1 - 100565
ER -