Brain tumor most common cause of death in childhood tumors

Experts inform about brain tumors in children and adolescents

"Around 400 children and adolescents suffer from brain tumors a year in Germany" and "Brain tumors are still the leading cause of death among childhood cancer," according to a joint press release from the German Childhood Cancer Foundation (DKS), Augsburg Hospital and the Faculty of Medicine University of Augsburg.

At the patient conference of the nationwide treatment network HIT for children and adolescents with brain tumors, the experts in Augsburg will provide information on the latest diagnostic approaches, individualized therapies and aftercare. The funding of studies in the treatment network HIT forms a main focus of support of the German Childhood Cancer Foundation, with the hope to further improve the possibilities for those affected. The treatment network was launched by the DKS in cooperation with the German Society for Pediatric Cancer Medicine (GPOH) and the experts report annually at a congress on the latest findings.

Every fifth cancer in children is a brain tumor

In Germany, brain tumors, with around 400 new cases each year, account for around 20 percent of all malignant tumors in children. The treatment options are often very limited, not least because the diseases are discovered only at a late stage. In addition to individualized therapy and pediatric neurosurgery, the HIT network also focuses on precise diagnostics. The aftercare and the (re) -institution in school and work are also discussed at the conference.

Symposium to inform about brain tumors in children

Around "450 doctors, scientists, documentaries, psychosocial staff, nursing staff, as well as patients and affected parents from all over Germany" are expected to attend the conference entitled "Brain Tumors in Childhood and Adolescence". It is organized by the German Children's Cancer Foundation in cooperation with the Swabian Children's Cancer Center at the Augsburg Hospital and the Medical Faculty of the University of Augsburg. The scientific direction was led by Professor dr. Dr. med. Michael C. Frühwald and dr. med. Astrid K. Gnekow from the clinic for children and adolescents at the Schwäbische Kinderkrebszentrum Augsburg.

Open dialogue with the experts

A central concern of the conference is to respond to the fears and needs of the affected families. The conference should enable those affected and their parents to have an open dialogue with the experts, according to the announcement of the German Childhood Cancer Foundation. The HIT network receives annual funding of about three million euros from the DKS and organizes "nationwide eight therapy optimization studies for the individual brain tumor types with interdisciplinary reference facilities for neuropathology, neuroradiology, cerebrospinal fluid diagnostics and radiotherapy". The goal is to achieve significant progress in diagnostics and therapy. (Fp)