Cancer in Children

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Summary

Cancer is a group of related diseases. In all types of cancer, some of the body's cells begin to divide without stopping and spread into surrounding tissues.

Normally, new cells form as you need them, replacing old cells that die. Sometimes, this process goes wrong. New cells form when you don't need them, and old cells don't die when they should. The extra cells can form a tumor. Tumors can be benign or malignant. Benign tumors aren't cancer. Malignant tumors are cancer, and the cancer cells can spread to nearby tissues. They can also break away and spread to other parts of the body.

Children can get cancer in the same parts of the body as adults, but there are differences. Childhood cancers may happen suddenly, without early symptoms. Some types can often be cured. The most common children's cancer is leukemia. Some of the other more common types of cancer in children include brain tumors, lymphoma, and soft tissue sarcoma.

Symptoms and treatment depend on the type of cancer and how advanced it is. Treatments may include:

Surgery
Radiation therapy
Chemotherapy
Stem cell transplants
Targeted therapy, which uses drugs or other substances that attack specific cancer cells with less harm to normal cells

NIH: National Cancer Institute

Start Here

Cancer in Children (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
Cancer in Children and Adolescents (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
Childhood Cancer (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Children with Cancer: A Guide for Parents (National Cancer Institute)
If Your Child Has Cancer (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

Finding Cancer in Children (American Cancer Society)
Stages of Childhood Extracranial Germ Cell Tumors (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

Childhood Thyroid Cancer Treatment (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
Drugs Approved for Childhood Cancers (National Cancer Institute)
Drugs Approved for Rhabdomyosarcoma (National Cancer Institute)
Immunotherapy to Treat Cancer (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation)
Rare Cancers of Childhood Treatment (National Cancer Institute)
Side Effects of Chemotherapy and Radiation (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Steroids for Treating Cancer (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Treatment Option Overview (Childhood Extracranial Germ Cell Tumors) (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Living With

Bone Health After Cancer Treatment (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Care for Childhood Cancer Survivors (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
Coping with Cosmetic Effects of Cancer Treatment (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Returning to School after Cancer Treatment (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
Support for Families when a Child Has Cancer (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

Effects of Cancer Treatment on Fertility (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Late Effects of Treatment for Childhood Cancer (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
Relapse or Recurrence (CureSearch for Children's Cancer)

Specifics

General Information about Childhood Extracranial Germ Cell Tumors (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
Other Rare Cancers of Childhood (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
Rare Cancers of the Abdomen (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
Rare Cancers of the Chest (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
Rare Cancers of the Head and Neck (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
Rare Cancers of the Reproductive and Urinary Systems (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
Thyroid Cancer (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Genetics

Mosaic variegated aneuploidy syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)

Videos and Tutorials

When Your Child Is Diagnosed with Cancer (National Cancer Institute)

Statistics and Research

Advances in Childhood Cancer: Making Personalized Treatments a Reality (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish
Childhood Cancer Statistics (CureSearch for Children's Cancer)
Childhood Cancer Survivor Study: An Overview (National Cancer Institute)

Clinical Trials

Children's Assent to Clinical Trial Participation (National Cancer Institute)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Cancer in Children (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Reference Desk

Dictionary of Cancer Terms (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Find an Expert

American Cancer Society
Children's Oncology Group Cancer Center Locations (Children's Oncology Group)
Choosing a Cancer Doctor (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
National Cancer Institute Also in Spanish
NCI - Designated Cancer Centers (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
Organizations that Offer Cancer Support Services (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Children

Chemotherapy (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
What Is Cancer? (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Teenagers

Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
Cancer Basics (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Dealing with Cancer (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Radiation Therapy (Nemours Foundation)

Patient Handouts

A guide to help children understand cancer (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
After chemotherapy - discharge (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Eating extra calories when you are sick - children (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Questions to ask your child's doctor about cancer (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish