Cerebral Palsy and Cancer

Some studies show that children with cerebral palsy have an elevated risk of developing certain types of cancer. Parents of children with cerebral palsy should be aware of the risks. Learn more about the connection, talk to your doctors about lowering the risk for cancer, and get appropriate cancer screenings for your child.

What Is the Link Between Cerebral Palsy and Cancer?

Studies of cancer in people with cerebral palsy are limited. Some have shown no connection, but most indicate that people with cerebral palsy have higher rates of death from cancer than the general population.

Cerebral Palsy and Chronic Illness

Studies show that the cerebral palsy population has a high prevalence of various chronic illnesses, including cancer. Other chronic illnesses they are disproportionately affected by include cardiorespiratory illnesses, kidney disease, depression, and osteoarthritis.[1]

Cerebral Palsy-Cancer Link

One of the earliest studies of cerebral palsy and cancer involved over 45,000 people living with CP in California. The researchers looked at causes of death and found several connections between CP and cancer:[2]

• Deaths caused by most types of cancers investigated in the study were higher in the CP population.
• Death from breast cancer was three times higher in the group of people with CP as compared to the general population.
• Rates of brain cancer were higher in the CP population, most significantly in children.
• People with CP had lower than average rates of lung cancer. This is probably due to lower rates of smoking in people with disabilities.
• Other types of cancer deaths elevated in people with CP included esophageal, colon, and genitourinary.
• Rates of cancer deaths were higher in people with severe cerebral palsy.

A similar study followed, which also looked at a large group of people with cerebral palsy but during a later period of time, from 1988 to 2002. The results were consistent with the earlier study, showing an overall increased prevalence of cancer mortality in people with CP.[3]

Why Are People With Cerebral Palsy at Greater Risk for Cancer?

There are several potential reasons a child with cerebral palsy might be more likely to develop cancer. One issue is that people with disabilities are less likely to get appropriate and recommended screenings.

The findings from the California study that showed a significantly elevated risk for breast cancer could be explained in this way. Women with cerebral palsy are probably less likely to be screened for breast cancer. They are more likely to have a delayed diagnosis and to receive inadequate or late treatment.

Another contributing factor might be the lack of exercise in people with significant physical disabilities. Exercise is known to be protective against cancer, but a person with CP is less likely to be able to exercise or to have access to accommodations that would help them be active.

People with cerebral palsy are more likely to have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD causes stomach acid to rise into the esophagus. GERD is known to increase the risk of esophageal cancer, more so in people with frequent episodes and symptoms.[4]

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Cancer?

Cancer can cause a wide variety of symptoms depending on the type and how much it has progressed. These are some common and general symptoms that might indicate cancer, and that should be discussed with your child’s doctor:[5]

• Fatigue, even when getting enough rest
• Unintentional weight loss
• Changes in eating, including not being hungry, nausea when eating, or difficulty swallowing
• Noticeable and unexplained lumps anywhere in the body
• Unexplained and persistent pain
• Coughing and hoarseness that don’t resolve
• Changes in bowel habits, including diarrhea, constipation, or unusual stools
• Bladder changes, including pain when urinating or blood in urine
• Fever
• Night sweats
• Headaches
• Vision and hearing problems

Any of these symptoms could result from any number of conditions, but if you have questions, speak to your child’s doctor. New, unexplained, and persistent symptoms are especially concerning.

How to Protect Your Child from Cancer

While there is no way to definitively prevent cancer, you can reduce your child’s risk. Avoiding or limiting risk factors and embracing protective factors can make it less likely your child will develop cancer.

You can also ensure that if your child gets cancer, they get an early diagnosis. Diagnosing cancer early allows for better treatment and outcomes.

• Make Healthy Lifestyle Choices. Several healthy lifestyle habits are protective against cancer and reduce the risk. These include regular exercise, a healthy and balanced diet, and getting enough sleep. Achieving these can be more difficult for a child with CP. Talk to their doctors about how to make it easier.
• Avoid Alcohol and Tobacco. People with CP are less likely to drink or smoke, but those with milder disabilities may use alcohol or tobacco as much as the general population. Avoid them to eliminate two significant cancer risk factors.
• Keep up With CP Treatments. Managing cerebral palsy and all its associated conditions can reduce your child’s risk of cancer. For instance, if they have GERD, managing it can reduce damage to the esophagus and reduce the risk of esophageal cancer.
• Get Regular Checkups and Screenings. In addition to treatment for cerebral palsy and its complications, regular checkups can help detect cancer early.

How to Get a Cancer Screening

Because your child has an increased risk of cancer, you might want to include early screenings for some types of cancer as part of their regular medical care. Talk to your child’s doctor, and they can advise you on the types of tests that would be appropriate.

In general, a cancer screening includes a physical exam and patient history in addition to more specialized tests:

• Imaging scans, including X-rays, ultrasounds, MRIs, and CT scans
• Lab tests of blood to check for cancer biomarkers
• Biopsies to remove tissue samples for examination and to identify cancer cells
• Genetic testing, which can indicate a risk for certain cancers

What to Do if Your Child Is Diagnosed with Cancer

If your child with CP receives a diagnosis of cancer, you’ll need to work with a team of specialists. This will likely include your pediatrician as well as an oncologist and other cancer treatment specialists. There are many treatments for cancer that they might recommend.

Although it is a terrible diagnosis to receive, an early cancer diagnosis allows you to provide your child with the best possible care. Look for children’s cancer centers in your area and consider traveling to see the best specialists.

Treatment will be your priority, but you also must consider the costs. Most private insurance plans cover cancer treatments and some of the associated costs. If you do not have insurance, you may qualify for government programs, like Medicaid or CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program).[6]

How Is Cancer Treated?

Cancer treatments vary depending on the type, the stage, and other issues unique to each patient. Common treatments for cancer include:

• Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells.
• Surgery. Surgical procedures aim to remove as much of the cancerous tissue and tumors as possible.
• Radiation Therapy. Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams aimed at tumors to kill cancer cells.
• Immunotherapy. A newer type of treatment, immunotherapy uses medications that harness the patient’s immune system to encourage it to kill cancer cells.

Cancer treatments can cause many side effects. It’s important to consider the particular needs of children when treating cancer and how they might be susceptible to side effects and complications.

Talking to Your Child About Cancer

Talking to a child about having cancer is very difficult but necessary. Because they already have a disabling condition, they have an understanding of what it means to be sick, to go to doctors’ appointments, and to undergo various treatments.

Explain to your child that this is an additional diagnosis. Be truthful and open but only to an age-appropriate extent. Let your child ask questions and provide the best answers you can. Provide them with plenty of reassurance and comfort. Your child’s regular doctor can be a useful ally in helping explain cancer and what to expect.

Although cerebral palsy and cancer are unfortunately linked, your child won’t necessarily get cancer. Not all children with CP have cancer. Be aware of the increased risk, provide the healthiest lifestyle for your child, and talk to their doctors about your concerns.