Atrium Health Navicent doctor shares signs, resources during Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month

Dr. Sushmita Nair joined 41 Today to discuss pediatric cancer awareness, including potential warning signs and resources available to children and their families.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Pediatric cancer is rare, but parents should pay attention when common symptoms linger or do not improve with treatment, according to an Atrium Health Navicent doctor.

Dr. Sushmita Nair joined 41 Today to discuss pediatric cancer awareness, including potential warning signs and resources available to children and their families.

“Pediatric cancer is rare, but it is real,” Nair said. “So when your child is sick, 99.9% of the time it’s not cancer.”

Nair said symptoms of common childhood illnesses can sometimes resemble symptoms associated with cancer, making it difficult for parents to distinguish between the two.

Potential signs can include persistent fevers, vomiting, fatigue, lethargy or a child simply not acting like themselves. Nair said parents should consider having their child evaluated if symptoms linger for a week or two or do not improve with typical treatment.

“If the symptoms linger, they don’t get better with the regular treatments, then you definitely need to get your child checked out,” Nair said.

For children diagnosed with cancer, Atrium Health Navicent provides treatment and support through its Hope for Kids pediatric hematology and oncology clinic.

Nair said the clinic has a six-chair infusion room where patients can receive chemotherapy, along with three board-certified pediatric oncology physicians and nurses trained to administer chemotherapy to children.

Families also have access to child life specialists, social workers and financial counselors.

“It takes a whole village to get a child with cancer through treatment,” Nair said.

Some treatments can be administered at the clinic, while treatments requiring longer stays are provided at the children’s hospital.

Nair also encouraged parents facing a pediatric cancer diagnosis to remain hopeful, saying many childhood cancers are treatable.

“The good news is, like, the cure rate is really good,” Nair said. “80 to 85% of childhood cancer is treatable, and these children are long-term survivors.”

Nair said families should take the process one day at a time and seek the necessary care as soon as possibl