 |
Overview
Childhood Cancers are Unique
The types of cancers that occur in children vary greatly from those seen in adults. They tend to occur in different parts of the body, they look different under the microscope and they respond differently to treatment. Cure rates for children are much higher than for most adult cancers and more than 70% of all children can now be completely cured.
Leukemias, brain and other nervous system tumours, lymphomas (lymph node cancers), bone cancers, soft tissue sarcomas, kidney cancers, eye cancers, and adrenal gland cancers are the most common cancers of children, while skin, prostate, breast, lung, and colorectal cancers are the most common in adults.
The stage of growth and development is another important difference between adults and children; the immaturity of children's organ systems often has important treatment implications.
The causes of childhood cancers are, in most cases unknown. Known causes of adult cancers include environmental, occupational and lifestyle factors, such as diet, alcohol and smoking.
|
|
