Childhood Cancer

Annually, approximately 11,200 children in the Unites States under the age of 15 will be diagnosed with cancer. Childhood cancers often differ from those encountered in adults. The most common are:

• Leukemia
• Brain and other nervous system tumors
• Neuroblastoma
• Lymphoma
• Soft tissue sarcoma (rhabdomyosarcoma and fibrosarcoma)
• Kidney cancer (Wilm's tumor)
• Eye cancer
• Bone cancer

A few childhood cancers can be hereditary, but unlike many cancers of adults, there are no avoidable risk factors like smoking or exposure to hazardous chemicals in the workplace that are known to influence a child's risk of getting cancer.

Cancers in children are often hard to recognize. Parents should be sure that their children have regular medical check-ups and watch for unusual signs or symptoms that do not go away. These include:

• An unusual lump or swelling
• Unexplained paleness and loss of energy
• Easy bruising
• An ongoing pain in one area of the body
• Limping
• Unexplained fever or illness that doesn't go away
• Frequent headaches, often with vomiting
• Sudden eye or vision changes
• Sudden unexplained weight loss

Childhood cancers can be treated with a combination of therapies that are chosen based on the type and stage of cancer. Treatment options may include chemotherapy, surgery, and/or radiation therapy. There are some exceptions, but childhood cancers usually respond well to chemotherapy. Because of earlier detection and major treatment advances approximately 80% of children with cancer will survive 5 years or more.

Patient Preparation Follow these instructions before your child's PET/CT scan. more

What to Expect Read about your child's PET/CT scan and what to expect. more

Following the Scan Understand the next steps following your child's PET/CT scan. more