Every year on the 15th of February, we observe International Childhood Cancer Day to raise awareness about cancer in infants to teenagers of age 1 to 19. According to studies, more than 80% of childhood cancer patients were alive 5 years after diagnosis. Therefore, while childhood cancers are very rare, they can be treated and cured with early diagnosis.

What you need to know:

What is childhood cancer?
Types of childhood cancer
Symptoms of childhood cancer

What is childhood cancer?

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Pediatric cancer refers to a cancer group that affects infants, children and teenagers. It is a serious medical condition that can change the lives of both the children and their parents. While childhood cancer is treatable, childhood cancer survivors are also at an increased risk of a second cancer.

Types of childhood cancer

Here are some of the most common childhood cancer types:

Leukemia

Among all childhood cancers, leukemia is the most common case. It is estimated that in 2023, almost 53 children and 35 teenagers in 1 million people got diagnosed with leukemia. Here are the two main types of leukemia:

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL): This type of leukemia affects your blood and bone marrow. ALL also damages the blood cells that fight infections.
Acute myeloid leukemia: Acute myeloid leukemia affects a child’s blood platelets and blood cells.

Lymphomas

Lymphoma can be of two types – Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, that affect children’s lymphatic system. In 2023, almost 53 children and 22 teenagers out of 1 million were affected with lymphoma.

Hodgkin lymphoma: It is a common type of cancer that usually affects teenagers, but it can affect younger children, too. There are two types of Hodgkin lymphoma:

Nodular Sclerosis Hodgkin Lymphoma
Mixed Cellularity Hodgkin Lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma: It is a type of lymphoma that’s more common in teenagers. This type include:

Lymphoblastic Lymphoma: A form primarily which affects the lymph nodes
Burkitt Lymphoma: This kind is known for its rapid growth and dangerously fast spread of cancerous cells
Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma: This type affects B cells, a lymphocyte responsible for producing antibodies.
Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma: This variant is known for its unusual appearance.

Brain tumors

Brain tumors are the second most common type of cancer affecting children and teenagers. They can be either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).

Symptoms of childhood cancer

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Childhood cancer symptoms can be expressed using the acronym “CHILDCANCER.”

C: Continued weight loss
H: Headaches
I: Increased swelling or pain in joints, back and legs
L: Lumps in the child’s belly, neck, chest or armpits
D: Development of continued bleeding or bruises
C: Constant or recurring infections
A: A whitish color behind the pupil of your child’s eye
N: Nausea that does not go away
C: Constant fatigue
E: Eye or vision changes
R: Recurring fever

According to WHO, more than 80% of children with cancer are cured. While living with a child who has cancer can be difficult, reliable information can go a long way when it comes to adept protection against cancer. If you think your child’s cancer symptoms are getting intense, visit a medical expert immediately.

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