Cancer in kids can be the same that affects teens and adults. But the most common ones are different. Some can be rare to adults but most likely affect children as young as 2 years old. What this means is that cancer does affect anyone, including children. To give you a glimpse of what can possibly happen to kids, here are the cancer types that have a high number of cases for the past years.
1. Leukemia
For a few decades, leukemia has been the number one on the list. It has affected a lot of children from toddler to 12 years old.
This is a cancer of the white blood cells, which are usually the early blood-forming cells. Hence, children are the most common patients. In some cases, this cancer may start in other types of blood cells, as long as they are part in the bone marrow. They can reproduce fast that makes the cancer much deadlier. From the bloodstream, this disease can spread to other body organs, which include the nervous system, the liver, and lymph nodes.
Leukemia is either acute or chronic. Acute leukemia grows fast, while chronic is slow, which has a higher prognosis rate. But there should be no relief knowing how this disease affects children, who have poor immune system.
2. Lymphoma
Another cancer affecting kids is lymphocytes. This starts in the immune system and grows in different lymph nodes, such as the tonsils, neck, armpit, and groin. It’s also a disease that can spread in the bone marrow and other body parts.
There are also two types of this cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Regardless of the type, the most common symptom of lymphocytes is swollen lymph nodes.
3. Brain and Central Nervous System Tumors
This is the second most common cancer in children. Tumor in the brain can cause a serious damage that can affect other bodily functions if not treated immediately. This can start in the brain stem or the cerebellum.
Children suffering from this can have frequent headaches or dizziness, vomiting and nausea, and blurred vision. They may also have difficulty handling or holding objects and walking. It’s a situation that no one wants to have or parents have to endure seeing their kids.
4. Bone Cancers
Bone cancers can be primary or metastatic. The former starts directly from the bone, and the latter begins somewhere that spreads into the bone. This is another cancer that affects many children.
Generally, primary bone cancers are into two types. The first one is osteosarcoma, which is more common in teenagers that affect long bones like the arms and legs. The second type is ewing sarcoma that is not that common fortunately. This one usually affects the bones in the pelvic region and the chest wall.
5. Wilms Tumor
One cancer in kids that is included on the top list is the Wilms tumor. It mainly affects one or both kidneys in children. Signs that must be aware of are pain and swelling between the belly and the kidneys, nausea, fever, and loss of appetite.
Some cancers are deadlier in children than in adults. These are diseases that should be prevented. Remember that prevention is the best way to help kids grow up normally and healthily. By having basic knowledge on these cancers, you can surely help your own children get away from any of these common cancers.