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Childhood cancer facts

Although specific types of childhood cancer are uncommon and childhood cancers represent a small percentage of all cancers, each year more than 160,000 children are diagnosed with the disease. Here are more facts about childhood cancer.

Common Childhood Cancers

  • Leukaemia (acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, acute myeloid leukaemia and chronic myeloid leukaemia
  • Lymphoma (non-Hodgkin’s and Hodgkin’s lymphoma and Burkitt’s lymphoma)
  • Central nervous system tumours (brain and spinal cord tumours)
  • Sympathetic nervous system tumours (Neuroblastoma)
  • Retinoblastoma (eye cancer)
  • Renal cancer (Wilms’ tumour)
  • Bone tumour (Osteosarcoma), Erwing’s sarcoma
  • Soft tissue sarcomas (Rhabdomy sarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma)

Signs and Symptoms

The earlier cancer is detected, the better the chance that the child will survive. Although the signs and symptoms depend on the type of cancer and location within the body, at least 85% of childhood cancer is associated with the following warning signs

  • Unusual abdominal mass or swelling
  • Prolonged and unexplained fever
  • Pallor, loss of energy and rapid weight loss
  • Unexplained and prolonged pain and headaches, often with vomiting
  • Easy bruises and unexplained bleeding
  • Sudden change in balance or behavior
  • Swollen head
  • White glow in the eye
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