A Guide To Common Childhood Cancers

The majority of cancers happen in older individuals because cells tend to get damaged and mutate with age. However, there are a few types of cancers that occur far more often in children. Having a child with cancer is never easy, but being able to understand cancer signs and treatments can help the whole family. This quick guide informs about these common childhood cancers. You can learn about early warning signs to keep an eye out for and see what treatment options are available for different types. Keep reading to learn more about the types of cancer that affect kids.

Leukemia

This type of cancer originates in bone marrow. The bone marrow produces leukocytes, a type of white blood cell supposed to fight off infection. When a child has this type of cancer, their body produces too many immature leukocytes, making it difficult for their body to create mature white blood cells and red blood cells. It is one of the most common types of cancer, and one out of three childhood cancers are a form of leukemia. Due to the lack of red blood cells, children with this type of cancer often feel tired, cold, and dizzy. They also often get infections and experience easy bruising and frequent nosebleeds. Treatment for this childhood cancer is very intensive. Since the cancer is in the entire bloodstream, the main method is using chemotherapy to kill cancerous cells, though children may also need stem cell transplants to help their body produce healthy blood cells again. As long as leukemia is diagnosed early, the outlook is quite favorable.

Continue reading to learn about a type of cancer affecting nerve cells in quite young children.

Neuroblastoma

These cancers form from any immature nerve cell, so they can be present right after birth. Most children with neuroblastoma are under the age of five. Neuroblastoma typically originates in the adrenal glands, but it can develop in other areas with nerve cell clusters. Children with this type of cancer may suffer from abdominal, chest, or back pain. They often lose weight without any apparent reason, and many have drooping eyelids with an uneven pupil size. Unlike most other cancers, neuroblastomas can sometimes go away on their own. In cases where the cancer cells have not spread beyond their point of origin, they can easily be removed with surgery. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be used to kill off any cancerous cells outside the primary tumor.

Continue reading to discover information about a type of cancer originating in the lymph nodes.