Cancer diagnosed in children and adolescents is commonly found to be leukemia, brain or other central nervous system tumors, lymphoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, bone cancer, and gonadal (testicular and ovarian) germ cell tumors.
**Background Information**
The cause of most childhood cancers is unknown, while others appear to be genetic mutations that lead to uncontrolled cell growth and cancer. Environmental factors are still being studied, as to what the child may have been exposed to in utero or just after being born.
**Effects of Childhood Cancer**
Short-term effects of childhood cancer are similar to those of an adults from treatments. They can include pain, fatigue, rashes, swelling, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and diminished immune system. For children and adolescents, there are long-term effects also to consider, which can include learning disabilities, abnormal bone growth, thyroid, heart, lung, liver, kidney, vision, or dental problems, hearing loss, delayed puberty and fertility problems.
**Treatment for Childhood Cancer**
Childhood cancer treatments are based on the type and stage of the cancer. Options include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and/or other types of treatment depending on the diagnosis. The caregiver will be involved in pain therapy and monitoring nutrition intake.
**Outcomes of Childhood Cancer**
The outcome of childhood cancers depends on the type and stage of cancer once discovered, but overall a child has an 83.6% chance of surviving five years or more. More than half will experience long-term effects and or secondary cancers.