(Most Common) Types of Childhood Cancer
Leukemia
Leukemia starts when a young white blood cell is multiplied in the bone marrow uncontrollably and spill into the blood stream.
1. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Also known as ALL, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia is a rapid growing type of leukemia in which an excessive amount of lymphoblasts (immature white blood cells) are present in the blood. It is the most common type of childhood cancer.
2. Acute Myelogenous Leukemia
AML results in too many blood-forming cells as well, these immature cells never mature to develop either granulocytes (contain enzymes that digest microorganisms) or monocytes (ingest foreign objects).
3. Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
CML is slow to progress but develops after an increase of myeloid cells, including cells with the Philadelphia chromosome.
Tumors
Tumors are a mass of abnormal cells in one location such as the brain but could be spread to other areas of the body (metastasis).
1. Neuroblastoma
Neuroblasts are immature nerve cells. When they fail to mature the rapidly reproduced cells form a mass most commonly near adrenal glands. Neuroblastoma is a leading cancer in infants and children under the age of 5.
2. Gliomas
Gilomas occur when supportive cells in the spinal cord or brain, called glial cells cause a cancer of the brain.
3. Medulloblastomas
Medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumor originates in the cerebellum, or lower region of the brain, can spread to the spine and other areas of the body. It is the most common type of childhood brain tumor.
4. Ependymomas
Ependymoma is a brain tumor that develops from a mass of ependymal cells lining the central canal of the spine as well as ventricle lining cells, these tumors can become enlarged and swell from blocking the flow of cerebrospinal fluids.
5. Osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma is found in the ends of bones near joints and caused by an error in DNA that affects the growth of bones. It is the number one child cancer of the bone and found more often in male adolescents than females.
6. Ewing’s Sarcoma
Ewing’s Sarcoma is a bone tumor found in the center of bones caused by chromosome abnormality.
Kidney
1. Wilms Tumor/Nephroblastoma
Wilms Tumor is cancer of the kidneys, a tumor can be found on one or both kidneys and is derived from abnormal kidney cells.
Sarcomas
Cancer found in connective tissue
1. Rabdomyosarcoma
Rabdomyosarcoma is cancer that develops from the cells that create skeletal muscles or striated muscle. Rhabdomyosarcoma can be found anywhere on the body.
2. Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma
Immature cells that resemble a 6 week old fetus’ cells cause embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, known as ERMS to preside in the head, neck, and genitourinary tract.
3. Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma
ARMS is found in older children in the trunk, arms, and legs areas; these muscle cells are comparable to a 10 week old fetus.
Liver
1. Hepatoblastoma
Hepatoblastoma is a malignant tumor on the liver due to unregulated liver cell growth.
Lymphoma
1. Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma comprises a body’s fight against infection. It is cancer derived from abnormal cells in the lymphatic system and the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells malignant, abnormal lymphocytes.
2. Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Non-Hodkin’s Lymphoma occurs when growth of lymphocytes is uncontrollable and causes cancer of the infection-fighting lymphatic system without the pressense of Reed-Sternberg cells.
Eyes
1. Retinoblastoma
A malignant eye tumor, retinoblastoma is caused by rapid reproduction of retina cells and genetic mutations.
Leukemia
Leukemia starts when a young white blood cell is multiplied in the bone marrow uncontrollably and spill into the blood stream.
1. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Also known as ALL, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia is a rapid growing type of leukemia in which an excessive amount of lymphoblasts (immature white blood cells) are present in the blood. It is the most common type of childhood cancer.
2. Acute Myelogenous Leukemia
AML results in too many blood-forming cells as well, these immature cells never mature to develop either granulocytes (contain enzymes that digest microorganisms) or monocytes (ingest foreign objects).
3. Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
CML is slow to progress but develops after an increase of myeloid cells, including cells with the Philadelphia chromosome.
Tumors
Tumors are a mass of abnormal cells in one location such as the brain but could be spread to other areas of the body (metastasis).
1. Neuroblastoma
Neuroblasts are immature nerve cells. When they fail to mature the rapidly reproduced cells form a mass most commonly near adrenal glands. Neuroblastoma is a leading cancer in infants and children under the age of 5.
2. Gliomas
Gilomas occur when supportive cells in the spinal cord or brain, called glial cells cause a cancer of the brain.
3. Medulloblastomas
Medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumor originates in the cerebellum, or lower region of the brain, can spread to the spine and other areas of the body. It is the most common type of childhood brain tumor.
4. Ependymomas
Ependymoma is a brain tumor that develops from a mass of ependymal cells lining the central canal of the spine as well as ventricle lining cells, these tumors can become enlarged and swell from blocking the flow of cerebrospinal fluids.
5. Osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma is found in the ends of bones near joints and caused by an error in DNA that affects the growth of bones. It is the number one child cancer of the bone and found more often in male adolescents than females.
6. Ewing’s Sarcoma
Ewing’s Sarcoma is a bone tumor found in the center of bones caused by chromosome abnormality.
Kidney
1. Wilms Tumor/Nephroblastoma
Wilms Tumor is cancer of the kidneys, a tumor can be found on one or both kidneys and is derived from abnormal kidney cells.
Sarcomas
Cancer found in connective tissue
1. Rabdomyosarcoma
Rabdomyosarcoma is cancer that develops from the cells that create skeletal muscles or striated muscle. Rhabdomyosarcoma can be found anywhere on the body.
2. Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma
Immature cells that resemble a 6 week old fetus’ cells cause embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, known as ERMS to preside in the head, neck, and genitourinary tract.
3. Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma
ARMS is found in older children in the trunk, arms, and legs areas; these muscle cells are comparable to a 10 week old fetus.
Liver
1. Hepatoblastoma
Hepatoblastoma is a malignant tumor on the liver due to unregulated liver cell growth.
Lymphoma
1. Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma comprises a body’s fight against infection. It is cancer derived from abnormal cells in the lymphatic system and the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells malignant, abnormal lymphocytes.
2. Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Non-Hodkin’s Lymphoma occurs when growth of lymphocytes is uncontrollable and causes cancer of the infection-fighting lymphatic system without the pressense of Reed-Sternberg cells.
Eyes
1. Retinoblastoma
A malignant eye tumor, retinoblastoma is caused by rapid reproduction of retina cells and genetic mutations.