Cancers Found in Children

Cancer begins when certain cells become abnormal and begin to grow out of control. Most cancers develop in adults, but there are some forms of cancer that are found in children. Cancer in children usually forms in parts of the body that are growing and changing, such as the brain, blood system and kidneys.

The Facts

• There are many types of cancer, but all develop because abnormal cells begin to grow uncontrollably. Cancer cells are different from normal cells. Although normal cells grow, divide and then die, cancer cells live longer than normal cells. They continue to grow and divide, forming more and more abnormal cells. In most types of cancer, these abnormal cells form a solid growth, called a tumor. Cancers that involve the blood, such as leukemia, don't form tumors.

Types

• The most common cancer found in children is leukemia, which accounts for about a third of all childhood cancers. Leukemia is cancer of the bone marrow and blood. The second most common cancer found in children is cancer of the brain and nervous system. Neuroblastoma is a cancer that affects nerve cells and most often affects children who are less than a year old. Wilms' tumor affects one or both kidneys and usually occurs before the age of 6.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of cancer are not always easy to recognize. Many of the symptoms of cancer mimic other illnesses, such as frequent infections, fever, swollen glands and bruises. Children with cancer sometimes don't show any symptoms at all. The Pediatric Oncology Resource Center has compiled a list of symptoms to watch for using the acronym "Child Cancer". See resources for this list.

Considerations

• Unlike cancer found in adults, childhood cancer can't usually be prevented by avoiding specific risk factors such as smoking or environmental hazards. It is important for parents to understand that if their child develops cancer, they didn't cause it. Most children diagnosed with cancer can be treated successfully.

Significance

• Approximately 10,000 children in the United States are diagnosed with cancer each year. Compared with cancer in adults, cancer found in children is relatively rare. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, during the past 25 years there have been significant improvements in the five-year survival rate for all major childhood cancers. Despite its rarity and advances in treatment, cancer is still the leading cause of death from disease in children younger than 15.