|
Types of Childhood Cancer
Leukemias
Lymphomas
Bone Cancers
Liver Cancers
Soft Tissue Sarcomas
Other Cancers
| Type |
Description |
Age |
|
| All Leukemias |
Leukemia is cancer of the blood cells. In acute leukemia, the disease comes on
suddenly and gets worse quickly if it is not treated. Most childhood leukemias
are acute. Chronic leukemia is usually milder at the start and gets worse more
slowly. |
|
| Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) |
Also known as "childhood leukemia" because it is the most
common childhood cancer. |
Usually occurs between 2 and 8 years old. |
| Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) |
Also called acute nonlymphatic leukemia. |
Usually occurs in people over age 25, but sometimes affects
teenagers and children. |
| Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) |
CML is a slowly progressing disease in which too many white
blood cells are made in the bone marrow. Also called chronic myeloid leukemia
or chronic granulocytic leukemia. |
Sometimes occurs in adolescents but almost never affects
children. Most commonly affects adults.
Five percent of childhood leukemias are CML. |
|
| Type |
Description |
Age |
|
| All Lymphomas |
Lymphoma is a tumor of the lymph tissue. Because lymph tissue
is in many parts of the body, lymphomas can start almost anywhere. |
|
| Hodgkin's disease |
Hodgkin's disease is a cancer that tends to affect the lymph
nodes that are close to the body's surface, such as those in the neck, armpit,
or groin area. |
Occurs mainly in young adults and in people over age 65 but
can affect teenagers and children. Lymphomas are the third most common
childhood cancer. Rare under age 5. |
| Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma |
In children, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma affects lymph nodes that
are found deeper in the body. The bowel is the most frequent spot, often in the
area next to the appendix, or in the upper part of the chest. |
Occurs most often in ages 10 to 20. Unusual under age 3. |
| Burkitt's lymphoma |
A type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In Americans, the usual
site is the abdomen. |
Age range is 2-16 years |
|
| Type |
Description |
Age |
|
| Osteosarcoma or osteogenic sarcoma |
Osteosarcoma is the sixth most common malignancy in children
and the most common type of bone cancer in children. Usually affects the thigh
bone (femur), upper arm bone (humerus), or one of the long bones of the lower
leg (tibia). |
Occurs between ages 10 and 25. |
| Ewing's sarcoma |
The most common sites for Ewing's sarcoma are the hipbones,
long bones in the thigh (femur) and upper arm (humerus), and ribs.
|
Occurs between ages 10 and 25. |
| Chondrosarcoma |
Chondrosarcoma forms in cartilage, the rubbery tissue around
the joints. |
Found mainly in adults, although it can occur in children. |
|
| Type |
Description |
Age |
|
| All liver cancers |
Also called hepatoma, liver cancer is a rare disease. When
the tumor is just in the liver and can be removed with surgery, it is highly
curable. Two types of cancer can start in the liver and are identified by how
they look under the microscope. |
|
| Hepatoblastoma |
Hepatoblastoma can be inherited. |
Usually occurs before age 3. |
| Hepatocellular cancer |
Children infected with hepatitis B or C (viral infections of
the liver) are more likely to get this type of cancer. |
Occurs most often in children age 4 or younger and those
between ages 12 and 15. |
|
| Type |
Description |
Age |
|
| All soft tissue sarcomas |
These sarcomas start in soft tissues, which connect, support,
and surround body parts and organs.
|
|
| Rhabdomyosarcoma |
Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common type of soft tissue
sarcoma. It starts in muscle tissue and can occur anywhere in body. It is most
often found in the head and neck, kidneys, bladder, arms, legs, and trunk. |
Affects children ages 2 to 6 years old. |
|
| Type |
Description |
Age |
|
| Brain cancer |
Brain cancer is the most common solid tumor cancer in
childhood. The most common brain tumors are called gliomas; there are several
types of gliomas.
|
Occurs most often in children from birth to 15 years old. |
| Wilm's tumor or nephroblastoma |
This type of cancer starts in the kidney. It is the most
common type of kidney cancer in children but is very different from kidney
cancer in adults. May be hereditary.
|
Age range 6 months to 10 years - greatest in first 5 years. |
| Neuroblastoma |
Cancer of certain nerve cells of the body is called
neuroblastoma. The second most common solid tumor cancer in children, it
usually starts in abdomen, either in the adrenal glands (located just above
kidneys in back of the upper abdomen) or around the spine. It can also start
around the spinal cord in the chest, neck, or pelvis. |
Occurs most often in babies and very young children. |
| Retinoblastoma |
Retinoblastoma is cancer of the eye. It affects the retina, a
thin membrane in the back of eye that works like a camera, making a picture of
what we see. Some children have retinoblastoma that runs in families. It
usually occurs in only one eye, but sometimes affects both eyes.
|
Occurs mostly in children younger than 5 years old.
|
|
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