Common Childhood Cancers: Types, Diagnosis, and Treatment

۰۲ شهریور ۱۴۰۵ Medical ، Articles-Eng

Common Childhood Cancers

This section provides an overview of the most common childhood cancers, including their common symptoms, how they are diagnosed, standard treatments, new treatments currently being studied, and ongoing research.

There are three main types of childhood cancer:

Leukemias – Blood Cancers
Lymphomas – Cancers of the Immune System
Solid Tumors – Cancers of the Bones, Organs, or Tissues

Leukemias (Blood Cancers)
Bone marrow is the factory where our blood is produced, deep inside our bones. Bone marrow produces red blood cells, which carry oxygen and nutrients throughout the body; white blood cells, which fight germs and infections; and platelets, which help stop bleeding. Leukemia is a cancer of the blood. Leukemia cells are abnormal blood cells that do not function properly and can also interfere with the production and function of healthy blood cells.
Leukemia is the most common type of cancer in childhood.
Types of leukemia include acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Lymphomas (Cancers of the Immune System)
The body has a defense system called the immune system. The immune system identifies and destroys cells that are abnormal or do not belong in the body. It stores immune cells called lymphocytes in the body's lymphatic tissues. Lymphoma is a cancer of the immune system and lymphatic tissues. Abnormal lymphoma cells do not function properly in protecting the body and can interfere with healthy immune cells. Types of lymphoma include Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Solid Tumors – Cancers of the Bones, Organs, or Tissues

A solid tumor is a mass of abnormal cells that have grown together. Tumors can develop in many parts of the body, including the brain, kidneys, liver, muscles, and bones. These abnormal cells can damage healthy cells and prevent them from performing their normal functions. Types of solid tumors include: