It can be heart-wrenching for parents to see their child suffer, even when they just have a cold or a scraped knee. Helping a child through cancer diagnosis and treatment, with so many unknowns and possible outcomes, is much more difficult.
While no family wants to face childhood cancer, it’s an unfortunate reality for some. While it’s rare compared to adult cancers, cancer is the leading cause of death from disease in children. But finding cancer early gives children the best possible chance to beat it.
“In children with cancer, early detection is important to be able to diagnose the cancer and start treatment before the cancer has been able to cause too many adverse effects,” said Laurel Truscott, MD, a children’s cancer specialist with Banner – University Medicine. “Children are resilient and are generally healthy other than having cancer, so the earlier the cancer is caught, the better.”
She explained more about the top types of cancer found in children and what parents can do to improve the odds of early detection.
Common types of childhood cancer
Childhood cancer is cancer that occurs in anyone under age 18. These cancers can affect different parts of the body. The types of cancers found in children may be different from those found in adults and they may need to be treated differently.
Here are some of the most common cancers in children:
- Leukemia: Leukemia is the most common type of childhood cancer. It causes the blood and bone marrow to make too many immature white blood cells. “The types of leukemia we see in children are acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML),” Dr. Truscott said.
- Brain and central nervous system (CNS) tumors: “These tumors are the second most common type of childhood cancer,” Dr. Truscott said. They can occur anywhere in the brain or spinal cord.
- Lymphoma: This type of cancer affects the lymphatic system (lymph nodes or lymphoid tissue) and includes Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
- Neuroblastoma: This type of cancer starts in nerve cells, usually in the adrenal glands, but it can also develop in the neck, chest, abdomen or pelvis.
- Wilms tumor: This is a type of kidney cancer that is most often found in children aged 3 to 4 years.
- Bone cancers: Cancers like osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma start in the bones or soft tissues.
- Retinoblastoma: This rare type of eye cancer is usually found in children under age 5.
Signs and symptoms of childhood cancer
It's important for parents to watch for any unusual changes in their child's health and get medical care quickly. “Kids can handle symptoms much better than we can as adults. They can continue playing and being happy and active even though they have some symptoms,” Dr. Truscott said. “Typically, though, parent intuition is right on. So if you think something is off, always consult your pediatrician.”
These signs and symptoms could point to other conditions, not just cancer. It’s important to see a health care provider for evaluation.
“Signs and symptoms can be different depending on the type of cancer,” Dr. Truscott said. Talk to your child’s provider if you notice:
- A fever that doesn't go away: A fever that isn't caused by a common illness and lasts for a long time.
- Unexplained weight loss: Weight loss without trying, especially if your child has less appetite than normal.
- Unusual bruising or bleeding: Bruising easily or bleeding that doesn't stop like it should when treated, especially nosebleeds or bleeding gums.
- Lumps or swollen spots: Especially in the abdomen, neck or armpits, which could be signs of swollen lymph nodes.
- Night sweats: “Your child may wake up at night with drenching sweats,” Dr. Truscott said.
- Pain: Pain in the bones or joints that doesn't ease up, often in the legs.
- Vision changes: Changes in eyesight or a white glow that might show up in the eye in photographs.
- Headaches: Especially if they are frequent or long-lasting or if your child has vomiting or changes in vision along with them.
- Feeling tired or weak: Unexplained fatigue or weakness.
- Other symptoms: Dizziness, changes in walking or balance, changes in sensation or pale skin.
Don’t dismiss symptoms, even if they seem minor. “Seek medical attention if anything is unusual about how your child feels or acts. Most cancer symptoms are also symptoms of more common diseases, so it can be difficult initially for parents and medical professionals to suspect cancer,” Dr. Truscott said. “If your child is given another diagnosis but they don't respond and get better, they should again seek medical attention for further evaluation.”
Why regular checkups are important
It may seem like you’re always taking your child to the pediatrician. But regular checkups are important for many reasons, including spotting signs of cancer that you or your child may not notice but that a health care provider might pick up. Be sure to tell your child’s provider about any family history of cancer.
Your child’s provider might recommend:
- Monitoring developmental milestones to spot any neurological concerns that could be linked to brain tumors.
- Vision and hearing screenings to identify problems early, including issues that could stem from retinoblastoma or brain tumors.
- Blood tests to check for abnormal blood cell counts, which could be a sign of leukemia.
- Imaging studies like ultrasounds, X-rays or MRIs to investigate lumps, bumps or abnormalities.
How early detection makes a difference
With early detection, there's a better chance that providers can start treatment before the cancer has spread too much or become more difficult to treat. For example:
- Leukemia that’s found early can often be treated with chemotherapy, targeted therapy or bone marrow transplant.
- Brain tumors that are found early may be treated with targeted radiation or removed surgically.
When childhood cancers are treated earlier, treatments may be less aggressive, so there can be fewer long-term side effects and better overall quality of life. Plus, more advanced cancers are more likely to cause organ damage or neurological problems.
Childhood cancers have much higher survival rates when they are diagnosed early, especially when they haven't spread to other parts of the body. “Remember that there are cures for childhood cancers,” Dr. Truscott said.
What parents can do
A childhood cancer diagnosis can be scary, and your emotions may run high. It may be hard for you to take in a lot of information. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about your child’s health, diagnosis and treatment plan. And if you have any doubts or concerns, consider seeking a second opinion from another pediatric oncologist or specialist. It’s important to feel confident in the care your child receives.
You can also:
- Find reliable information about childhood cancer from organizations such as the American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO) or the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
- Join local or online support groups for families facing childhood cancer to connect with emotional support, share experiences and get practical advice.
- Consider counseling or therapy for your child, yourself and family members to cope with the emotional impact of childhood cancer. Many cancer treatment centers offer support.
- Ask for support from family and friends to help manage stress and maintain your resilience.
The bottom line
It’s important for parents to watch for symptoms of childhood cancer and to make sure their children have regular checkups. While a diagnosis of cancer can be scary, childhood cancers are often treatable, especially when they’re found early.
If you are concerned about any symptoms your child has, contact your child’s health care provider or an expert at Banner Health.
