What are Childhood Cancers?

Perhaps most of the cancer-related health cases you have seen in media were about adults, but cancer can also affect children and even newborns. Childhood cancer be difficult and complicated to treat, but there are successful stories of survivors who made it past their treatments.

As a parent, you should be aware of the types of cancer that affect children, such as the following:

• Leukemia. This is perhaps the most common childhood cancer not just in Singapore but in most parts of the world. Leukemia among children is not easy to detect, unless it is an acute leukemia which develops suddenly. The following symptoms might show up gradually: bleeding and bruising even with a minor injury; recurring stomachache; difficulty breathing or wheezing and coughing; swelling in the arms, neck, collarbone and groin; frequent bacterial and viral infections; anemia; and frequent pain the joints and bones.

• Neuroblastoma. This type of cancer usually develops after childbirth and affects the adrenal glands. Symptoms include stomachaches, changes in the appetite, weakness in the legs and a formation of a hard mass in the neck that isn’t painful.

• Retinoblastoma. The malignant tumor starts in the retina and can potentially cause blindness of not treated early. Retinoblastoma is asymptomatic, but the parents might notice that the pupil becomes white when light is shone on the eyes.

• Lymphomas. As the name implies, lymphomas affect the lymphatic system and cause the lymph nodes to enlarge. Lymphomas can either be Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin in variety, with the former having a higher survival rate than the latter. Look for the following symptoms: swollen lymph nodes in the groin/armpits/chest, chest pain, fatigue, night sweats, weight loss, fever, abdominal pain, severe itching, and sensitivity to alcohol.

• Wilms Tumor. Also known as a type of kidney cancer or nephroblastoma, it usually affects just one kidney although two kidneys are not rare. Symptoms might not be noticeable, and they can vary among children, but you should look out for the following: abdominal mass, pain, and swelling; blood in the urine; constipation; nausea and vomiting; fever; hypertension; and shortness of breath.

• Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors. The symptoms vary among affected children, that is why it’s important to get an early diagnosis. Look out for the following: recurring morning headache and nausea; problems in speech, vision, hearing, balance, and walking; unusual sleepiness; seizures; increase in head size; back pain and pain in the arms and legs; changes in the bowel movements; difficulty urinating; and leg weakness.

• Bone Cancer. Two most common types of bone cancer, osteosarcoma and Ewing’s sarcoma, affect children. Symptoms include bone and/or joint pain, swelling, stiffness, and tenderness; lump on a bone; weak bones and frequent fractures; anemia; fatigue; difficulty moving; and weight loss.

• Rhabdomyosarcoma. This is a type of soft tissue sarcoma that affects the fibrous tissue or the muscles, usually in the bladder, head or neck, uterus, vagina, and testes. Some affected children also have tumors in the limbs, abdominal wall, and the chest. Symptoms include blockage and discharges in the throat and nose, swollen eye, abdominal pain, constipation, and blood in urine.