Paediatric Cancer: Common Types, Symptoms & Treatment

Dr.Roshan Dikshit, 4 mins read

It is quite concerning for all of us that India has become home to around 20% of the global paediatric cancer burden. That’s not all! Approximately 75,000 kids in India get cancer every year as per the World Health Organization (WHO).

These cancers are different from those that occur in adults. Even kids do better after timely and effective treatment than adults do. While several cancers can occur in children, few are more common like leukaemia, brain and spinal cord tumours, neuroblastoma, Wilms tumour, etc.

However, there are times when these cancers are diagnosed in later stages, which limits the treatment options and their effectiveness. So, it’s often recommended by doctors to keep a watch on your child. If your beloved child is showing any unusual symptoms, don’t ignore them and consult a doctor. Proper and timely medical attention can help in earlier diagnosis, which is crucial for effective treatment.

So, here we’ve come up with some of the common types of paediatric cancers with their symptoms and available treatment options.

5 Common Types of Paediatric Cancer

• Leukaemia

Accounting for almost 1 out of 3 paediatric cancers, leukaemia is the most common cancer in children. It is a type of blood cancer that happens when white blood cells abnormally and uncontrollably form in the bone marrow. These cells travel through the bloodstream and cause symptoms like fatigue, bone & joint pain, fever, weight loss, bleeding and bruising. Its treatment may include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted drug therapy or stem cell transplant.

• Brain and spinal cord tumours

About 26% of paediatric cancers are brain and spinal cord tumours. Most of these tumours start in the lower part of the children such as the brain stem and can cause symptoms like headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, blurred or double vision, seizures and trouble walking or handling objects, among others. Its treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, targeted therapy and chemotherapy.

• Neuroblastoma

With around 6% of total paediatric cancer cases, neuroblastoma ranks 3rd in the list of most common cancers. This type of cancer grows in immature nerve cells and is usually seen in children under age 5. Though they can develop in any body part, the abdomen is more vulnerable. It can cause symptoms like decreased appetite, fever, bone pain, lump in the belly, chest or neck, and fatigue. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, bone marrow transplant and immunotherapy are the treatment options available for neuroblastoma.

• Wilms tumour

Responsible for 4% of total paediatric cancers, Wilms tumour mostly affects children ages 3 to 4. In it, cancerous cells start developing in one or both kidneys, causing symptoms such as loss of appetite, constipation, nausea, blood in urine, fever and lump or swelling in the belly. Doctors after considering various factors can recommend a treatment regimen that may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery.

• Lymphomas

This type of cancer begins in the immune system called lymphocytes. They often start in lymph nodes or other lymph tissues like armpits, groin or neck. The lymphomas are of two types - Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (5% of childhood cancers) are more common than Hodgkin’s lymphomas (3% of paediatric cancers) in children. Its symptoms can vary based on where the cancer starts. The common symptoms include fever, sweats, fatigue and a lump where the cancer starts. Based on the type of lymphoma and the child’s condition, the treatment can vary. The treatment options include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, stem cell transplant, and immunotherapy.