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Types of Childhood Cancer
Information source - National
Cancer Institute
Leukemias
Lymphomas
Bone Cancers
Liver Cancers
Soft Tissue Sarcomas
Other Cancers
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Type |
Description |
Age |
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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. |
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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. |
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Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) |
Also
called acute nonlymphatic leukemia. |
Usually occurs in people over age 25, but sometimes affects teenagers
and children. |
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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. | |
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Type |
Description |
Age |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Burkitt's lymphoma |
A
type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In Americans, the usual site is the
abdomen. |
Age
range is 2-16 years | |
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Type |
Description |
Age |
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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. |
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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. |
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Chondrosarcoma |
Chondrosarcoma forms in cartilage, the rubbery tissue around the joints. |
Found mainly in adults, although it can occur in children. | |
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Type |
Description |
Age |
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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. |
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Hepatoblastoma |
Hepatoblastoma can be inherited. |
Usually occurs before age 3. |
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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. | |
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Type |
Description |
Age |
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All soft tissue sarcomas |
These sarcomas start in soft tissues, which connect, support, and
surround body parts and organs. |
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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. | |
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Type |
Description |
Age |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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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Information
source - National Cancer Institute
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