Health Topics for Child Health and Development

UI Children's Hospital

UI Family Care Centers

Divisions Within the Department of Pediatrics

Iowa Registry for Congenital and Inherited Disorders

Childhood cancers

Although cancer is rare in children, it is still the leading cause of death by disease in children ages 1 to 14.

The most common childhood cancers include:

• leukemia -- cancer of the blood
• kidney cancer -- cancer in the kidneys
• brain tumors -- tumors in the brain and central nervous system
• bone cancer -- cancer of the bones
• sarcoma -- abnormal growth (or tumor) of muscles and other soft tissues
• lymphoma -- cancer of the lymph nodes

What causes these cancers in children is not known. Certain chemicals and viruses may foster the onset of some cancers. Heredity may be a factor in some cancers.

Medical treatment for cancer may require more than one therapy. Therapies include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. The focus of cancer treatment centers on trying to slow and eventually kill abnormal cells while sparing healthy ones.

A surge of well-being, activity, and weight gain may occur once a child is cured. It is a dramatic change for the child and the family. Re-integrate the child into school and social activities with children of the same age as soon as possible. School performance is one of the best indicators of the child's ability to deal with the trauma resulting from the disease and treatment.

Children cured of cancer have an increased rate of developing a second cancer later in life. The risk depends on the type of cancer and how it was treated. Family history and the age of the child when first treated are also factors. Long-term follow-up health assessments are vital to these children; so are counseling and support groups because they assess a child's coping abilities and help the family readjust to a new lifestyle.

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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