Symptom of Childhood Cancer: 6 Common Types of Cancers in Children

2022-07-28 0 By Karen Smith

Contents

1 Common Types of Childhood Cancers
2 Takeaway
- - 2.0.1 References:

Cancers in children are a common worry among parents, mainly if they are sick for more than a few days without a good explanation. In fact, every symptom of childhood cancer is sometimes hard to identify because usual diseases or common bruises and bumps can cover the early warning signs. In addition, treatment for cancer during childhood often increases the danger of dental issues. You can click on this link to get preventive oral health care advice and recmmendations. Furthermore, it is crucial to be aware of cancer indications. The earlier cancer is diagnosed, the more successful treatment might be. Learn more in this article about the common types of childhood cancer, including the appropriate treatment for them.

Common Types of Childhood Cancers

The cancers in children, also called pediatric cancers, are generally not equivalent to those among adults. In fact, detecting early signs of cancer in children can be difficult. Most of those children with cancer might encounter various signs and symptoms, a large number of which are similar to typical childhood illnesses. At times, children with the condition do not display any cancer symptoms. Moreover, it is essential to know that the reason for manifestation may be a different medical condition that is not cancer.

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

Acute leukemia or acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most common childhood cancer. It begins in the bone marrow and spreads to the blood, and then transmits to the organs. Most of the time, it happens between the ages of 2 and 4 and is more prevalent in boys than girls.

Common signs and symptoms of acute leukemia:

Fatigue
Bleeding
Weight loss
Bone and joint pain
Weakness
Fever

Genetic disorders such as Fanconi anemia and neurofibromatosis carry an increased risk of leukemia, including some other types of cancers. Usual treatment methods are surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, targeted drug therapy, and stem cell transplants. Sad to say, these treatments cannot prevent damage to your teeth or even to your child’s teeth. Therefore, dental visits may also be necessary to keep their mouth healthy while treating their cancer.

Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors

There are different kinds of brain tumors, and the treatment plan for them is also different. Most brain tumors and other central nervous system tumors in children begin in the lower portions of the brain, such as the brain stem or cerebellum. Though a brain tumor is usually different in children compared to grownups, many manifestations remain the same.

In any case, common indications of brain tumors are:

Vision, hearing, or speech issues
Dizziness
Morning Headaches
Early morning vomiting
Balance problems

Though doctors are unsure what causes brain and spinal tumors in children, genetic changes are risk factors.

The treatment for your child starts with an accurate cancer diagnosis. Some of the fundamental therapies for this type of cancer are surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted therapy.

Wilms Tumor

This cancer begins in the kidneys and is the most well-known kind of pediatric kidney cancer. Wilms tumor typically just develops in one kidney but can sometimes occur on both. In addition, this illness is commonly found in very young children ages 3 to 6 years old.

Signs and symptoms of Wilms tumors:

Poor appetite
Welling or lump in the belly
Persistent Pain
Unexplained Fever
Nausea

Doctors are also not sure why children get Wilms tumors. However, like other types of pediatric solid tumors, genetic changes may play a role. In addition, a few sorts of birth defects may likewise be connected to this condition. Suspected cancer patients for Wilms tumors will generally have surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy treatment approaches.

Lymphoma

This type of cancer begins in specific cells of the immune system called lymphocytes. It affects lymph nodes and other lymph tissues, such as the oral cavity, tonsils, or thymus. Lymphoma can likewise influence the bone marrow and other organs. It can result in various side effects relying upon where the cancer is developing. In any case, the two primary types of lymphoma are:

Hodgkin lymphoma, also known as Hodgkin disease, is uncommon in children younger than 5 years old. This form of cancer is highly the same in children and grownups, including which treatment works best.
On the other hand, non-Hodgkin lymphoma can appear in younger children than Hodgkin lymphoma. Yet, it is also rare in children below the age of 3. The most typical kinds of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in kids are not quite the same as those in adults. These cancers frequently develop quickly and need intensive therapy. However, they likewise tend to react preferably to treatment than most non-Hodgkin lymphomas in fully grown individuals.

Signs that your child may have lymphoma:

Fever
Night sweats
Swollen lymph nodes in the armpit, neck, or groin
Weight loss
Weakness

Generally, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and stem cell transplant are the most common approaches in treating Hodgkin lymphoma. For non-Hodgkin lymphoma, young children get treated with radiation, chemotherapy, stem cell transplant, drug therapy, and surgery.

Bone Tumors

There are two primary kinds of bone cancers in children, namely:

Osteosarcoma appears more often in teenagers. This condition frequently occurs near the ends of the leg or arm bones. A common symptom of osteosarcoma is bone pain.
Ewing sarcoma is more common in younger adolescents. Symptoms of Ewing sarcoma are bone pain and swelling.

Generally, treatments for osteosarcoma are radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. Doctors apply similar treatments for Ewing sarcoma. However, they may also perform a stem cell transplant in some cases.

Retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma usually occurs in children ages 2. Doctors frequently recognize cancer when they notice that something appears unusual regarding the child’s eyes. For example, your child’s vision, particularly the pupil, might appear pink or white when the doctor focuses light on it rather than the typical red color. That is why eye checkup, especially for children, is also beneficial to diagnose early childhood cancers. So, if you want to make sure about this, get it checked by a medical professional to treat the complications early.

Furthermore, treatments for retinoblastoma are chemotherapy, radiation therapy, laser therapy, and surgery. Another option is cryotherapy, a method that includes destroying cancer cells by freezing them.

Takeaway

It would be best to talk with your doctor, especially if you notice any changes in your child’s behavior. Your doctor will inquire how often and how long your kid has been encountering the symptoms. This will help determine the cause of the issues, known as a diagnosis.

If your child is diagnosed with cancer, relieving manifestations is a significant part of cancer care and treatment. This might be known as supportive care or palliative care. It usually begins soon after finding and proceeds all through treatment. In addition, make sure to speak with your child’s doctor about symptoms your kid is encountering, including any new side effects or changes in manifestations.