A Guide To Common Childhood Cancers

Lymphoma

These types of cancers are cancerous growths in the lymph nodes. The earliest sign of this condition is often swollen lumps at the neck, armpit, groin, or other lymph node sites. Many children have night sweats, fatigue, and itching. Other warning signs may include a cough, fever, or weight loss. Hodgkin lymphomas are the most common type to develop in children, and fortunately, these are very treatable, and roughly ninety percent of all patients with Hodgkin disease survive. There are new methods of treatment that are proving quite effective for these types of cancer. Many patients respond well to immunotherapy, a type of treatment that encourages the body's immune system to fight off cancer. Traditional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation are also effective. Children who get a very high dose of chemotherapy might require a stem cell transplant to replenish stem cells killed by the chemotherapy.

Continue reading to learn about a type of cancer affecting the bones.

Osteosarcoma

This is a type of cancer that starts growing from the bones, and often originates during puberty when a child is having a growth spurt. This type of cancer often has few symptoms, so children may feel and look perfectly healthy. The only potential sign is swelling near a bone, pain in a bone or joint, or a bone breaking far too easily. Osteosarcoma frequently happens in the limbs, and for a long time, the recommended treatment was amputation. However, recent advancements have resulted in surgeries that remove the cancerous portion of the bone without having to remove the entire arm or leg. Chemotherapy may be necessary both before and after surgery. Before surgery, it assists in shrinking the tumor to a more manageable size, and afterward, it kills any lingering cancerous cells.

Continue reading to learn about the childhood cancers affecting the brain and spine.