In the following article, let us learn about the most common types of cancer in children.
The types of cancer in children are many and varied, and they differ from those suffered by adults. What are the most common types of cancer in children?
Types of cancer in children
There are many types of cancer in children, and through the following we will mention the most common and prevalent types of cancer in children:
1. Leukemia
Leukemia is one of the types of cancers that form in the tissues responsible for producing blood cells, which include the bone marrow and the lymphatic system. This type of cancer usually begins to form in white blood cells, and as for its symptoms, the most important are the following:
Pain in bones and joints.
Fatigue and weakness in the body.
Pale skin.
Bleeding or bruising.
fever.
Weight loss.
Treatment of leukemia in children depends on the degree, severity and stage of the infection determined by the doctor after the child undergoes several examinations.
2. Brain and spinal cord tumors
Brain and central nervous system tumors are the second most common type of cancer in children, accounting for about 26% of childhood cancers. There are many types of brain tumors, the most prominent symptoms of which are:
Headache and nausea.
Vomiting.
Blurred vision.
Dizziness.
Difficulty walking.
It is worth noting that adults are more susceptible to developing tumors in the upper part of the brain.
3. Neuroblastoma
It is a cancer that affects the sympathetic nervous system, which forms in the suprarenal gland and on both sides of the spine, starting from the fetal stage and during childhood. Neuroblastoma may be localized or it may spread to the liver, bones, bone marrow, lymph nodes and skin, and one of the most important symptoms of this is Type of cancer in children:
Appearance of a hard mass in the abdomen.
Bleeding around the eye.
Bone pain.
fever.
4. Nephroblastoma
Nephroblastoma, also known as Wilms'' tumor, appears in one kidney, and it is very rare for it to appear in both kidneys. It is also considered one of the most common types of malignant kidney tumors in children, constituting approximately 6% of all malignant tumors that affect children.
Nephroblastoma may spread among children between the ages of 3 and 4 years, and its most important symptoms are:
The presence of a tumor in the abdomen while bathing or dressing the child.
Abdominal pain.
Urinating with bleeding.
Unexplained high temperature.
High blood pressure and excessive fatigue.
5. Hodgkin''s disease
Lymphomas begin in immune system cells known as lymphocytes and often begin in the lymph nodes and other lymphatic tissues, such as the tonsils or thymus. These cancers can also affect the bone marrow and other organs. As for the symptoms of Hodgkin''s disease, It consists of the following:
Weight loss.
fever.
Sweating.
Tired.
The appearance of lumps or swollen lymph nodes under the skin in the neck, armpit, or groin.
The chances of recovery from Hodgkin''s disease through modern treatments that have developed in recent years have become very great, especially when the spread of the disease in the body is limited.
6. Rhabdomyosarcoma
It is one of the primary types of malignant tumors that affect soft tissue in girls. It is known as rhabdomyosarcoma. Uterine sarcoma may begin in the cells that normally develop into skeletal muscles. This type of cancer can begin to spread anywhere in the body, including That is the head, neck, thigh, abdomen, pelvis, arm, and leg.
A person with sarcoma may feel some pain, swelling, or both. Rhabdomyosarcoma is one of the most common types of cancer in children, accounting for about 3% of childhood cancers.
7. Retinoblastoma
Retinoblastoma is a cancer of the eye. It represents about 2% of childhood cancers. Retinoblastoma usually occurs in children around the age of 2 years and rarely appears in children older than 6 years.
Retinoblastoma often appears in the retina. Parents may notice that the child’s eye looks abnormal. The most important signs of retinoblastoma are:
White pupil (Leukocoria): which appears in most cases.
Strabismus: which appears in about a quarter of patients.
8. Bone cancer
Cancers that begin in the bones, or what is known as primary bone cancer, occur most often in older children and adolescents, but they can develop at any age and may represent about 3% of childhood cancers. The most prominent types of bone cancer are:
Sarcoma: Most common in adolescents, it usually develops in areas where bone is growing rapidly, and may cause bone pain and swelling in the area surrounding the bone.
Ewing''s sarcoma: This is a less common type of bone cancer, which can cause bone pain and swelling, and is most common in young adolescents.
It is worth knowing that a cancer diagnosis in any child or teenager can be a devastating blow to parents and other family members who love the child, but knowing these diseases and their symptoms and diagnosing them early makes the chances of recovery great.
