Most common childhood cancers

Things that cause adult cancer such as smoking and chemicals aren’t obvious causes of cancer in children. Children’s cancers effect in different parts of the body to adult cancers and occur much less often.

The most common types of cancer in adults are skin, breast, prostate, lung and bowel. In children, cancers of the blood and bone marrow, lymph tissue, brain, nervous system, muscles, kidneys, and bone are most common.

Cancer in children tends to respond better to treatment than cancer in adults and overall, cure rates in children are much higher than in adults.

For more information, see the Paediatric Integrated Cancer Service digital resources. See below for an overview of some of the most common cancers affecting children.

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia

What is it?

Leukaemia is a cancer of the blood that starts in the bone marrow and spreads into the bloodstream.

What types are there?

There are three types of childhood leukaemia:

• Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)
• Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)
• Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML which is extremely rare)

More information

• Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) coordinates research and care for children and their parents in the UK. The website has information about the CCLG, childhood cancer and leukaemia.
• Cure Search for Children’s Cancer
• You can also call  13 11 20 for more information and support.

Lymphoma

What is it?

Lymphomas begin in cells called lymphocytes. They most often affect the small glands in the body known as lymph nodes and other lymph tissues.

What types are there?

There are two main types of childhood lymphomas:

• Hodgkin lymphomas (sometimes called Hodgkin’s disease)
• Non-Hodgkin lymphomas

More information

• Cure Search for Children’s Cancers
• Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group UK
• Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in Children
• Hodgkin’s disease
• You can also call 13 11 20 for more information and support.

Brain & Central Nervous (CNS) System Tumours

What is it?

A brain or spinal cord tumour starts when abnormal cells grow and form a mass or lump. The tumour may be benign or malignant, but both types can be serious and may need urgent treatment. 

What types are there?

There are two main types of childhood brain and central nervous system tumours:

• Gliomas (Astrocytomas and ependymomas)
• Medulloblastoma

Brain tumours can be either primary (the tumour starts to grow in the brain) or secondary (more commonly called brain or cerebral metastases), which happen when cancer cells from other parts of the body spread to the brain.  

More information

• Read our section about Brain tumours in children
• Read the information on the Macmillan Cancer Support website about Brain tumours in children.
• Cure Search for Children’s Cancers.
• Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group UK.
• You can also call Cancer Council on 13 11 20.  

Bone cancers (including Osteosarcoma and Ewing’s sarcoma)

What is it?

Primary bone cancer is cancer that starts on the surface, in the outer layer or from the centre of the bone. As the tumour grows, cancer cells multiply and destroy the bone. If left untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body.

What types are there?

The two most common types of bone cancer seen in children are:

• Osteosarcoma
• Ewing sarcoma

More information

• Download our fact sheet Primary Bone Cancer.
• Macmillan Cancer Support information on Ewing’s sarcoma.
• Macmillan Cancer Support information on Osteosarcoma.
• Curesearch for Childrens’ Cancer.
• You can also call 13 11 20 for more information and support.  

Rhabdomyosarcoma

What is it?

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a type of soft tissue sarcoma which develops in the muscle or fibrous tissue anywhere in the body.

More information

Call 13 11 20 for more information and support or read the information on the following international cancer patient websites:

• American Cancer Society: About rhabdomyosarcomas.
• European Paediatric Soft Tissue Sarcoma Group (EpSSG) EpSSG is a group that coordinates clinical trials for children with rhabdomyosarcoma. The website has information about treating these types of tumours.

Neuroblastoma

What is it?

Neuroblastoma is a cancer that develops from nerve tissue that is normally present around the chest, abdomen and adrenal glands, found above the kidneys.

More information

• CancerHelp UK
• The American Cancer Society
• You can also call 13 11 20 for more information and support. 

Retinoblastoma (eye cancer)

What is it?

Retinoblastoma is a rare type of eye cancer in children. It is a tumour that affects the retina (the light-sensitive lining of the eye).

What types are there?

They are two forms of retinoblastoma:

• heritable form
• non-heritable form (unilateral)

More information

• Macmillan Cancer Support information about retinoblastomas on the Macmillan Cancer Support website.
• You can also call 13 11 20 for more information and support.  

Wilm’s tumour

What is it?

Wilms tumours are sometimes called nephroblastomas. They are a type of kidney cancer.

More information

• The American Cancer Society detailed guide about Wilms tumours.  
• Curesearch for Childrens Cancer.
• Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group UK. 
• You can also call 13 11 20 for more information and support.

Germ cell cancers

What is it?

Germ cell tumours develop from the cells that produce eggs and sperm.

More information

• Macmillan Cancer Support information on germ cell tumours.
• You can also call 13 11 20 for more information and support.