Childhood Brain Tumors

Brain tumors are abnormal growths inside the skull. They are among the most common types of childhood cancers. Some are benign tumors, which aren't cancer. They can still be serious. Malignant tumors are cancerous. 

• Morning headache or headache that goes away after vomiting 
• Frequent nausea and vomiting 
• Vision, hearing, and speech problems 
• Loss of balance or trouble walking 
• Unusual sleepiness 
• Personality changes 
• Seizures 
• Increased head size in infants 

The symptoms are not the same in every child.  

Doctors use physical and neurological exams, lab tests, and imaging to diagnose brain tumors. Most childhood brain tumors are diagnosed and removed in surgery. 

Treatment for children is sometimes different than for an adult. Long-term side effects are an important issue. The options also depend on the type of tumor and where it is. Removal of the tumor is often possible. If not, radiation, chemotherapy, or both may be used. 

Cancer in Children 

Cancer is a group of related diseases. In all types of cancer, some of the body's cells begin to divide without stopping and spread into surrounding tissues. 

Normally, new cells form as you need them, replacing old cells that die. Sometimes, this process goes wrong. New cells form when you don't need them, and old cells don't die when they should. The extra cells can form a tumor. Tumors can be benign or malignant. Benign tumors aren't cancer. Malignant tumors are cancer, and the cancer cells can spread to nearby tissues. They can also break away and spread to other parts of the body. 

Children can get cancer in the same parts of the body as adults, but there are differences. Childhood cancers may happen suddenly, without early symptoms. Some types can often be cured. The most common children's cancer is leukemia. Some of the other more common types of cancer in children include brain tumors, lymphoma, and soft tissue sarcoma. 

Symptoms and treatment depend on the type of cancer and how advanced it is. Treatments may include: 

• Surgery 
• Radiation therapy 
• Chemotherapy 
• Stem cell transplants 
• Targeted  therapy, which uses drugs or other substances that attack specific cancer cells with less harm to normal cells 

Childhood Leukemia

What is leukemia?

Leukemia is a term for cancers of the blood cells. Leukemia starts in blood-forming tissues such as the bone marrow. Your bone marrow makes the cells that will develop into white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. Each type of cell has a different job:

• White blood cells help your body fight infection 
• Red blood cells deliver oxygen from your lungs to your tissues and organs 
• Platelets help form clots to stop bleeding 

What are the types of leukemia in children?

There are different types of leukemia. Some types are acute (fast-growing). They usually get worse quickly if they are not treated. Most childhood leukemias are acute: 

• Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), is the most common type of leukemia in children and the most common cancer in children. In ALL, the bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. 
• Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), happens when the bone marrow makes abnormal myeloblasts (a type of white blood cell), red blood cells, or platelets. 

Other types of leukemia are chronic (slow-growing). They usually get worse over a longer period. They are rare in children: 

• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), in which the bone marrow makes abnormal lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). It is more common in teens than in children. 
• Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), in which the bone marrow makes abnormal granulocytes (a type of white blood cell). It is very rare in children. 

Who is at risk for leukemia in children?

The factors that raise the risk of childhood leukemia include:

• Having a brother or sister, especially a twin, with leukemia 
• Past treatment with chemotherapy 
• Exposure to radiation, including radiation therapy 
•  Having certain genetic conditions, such as
  • Ataxia telangiectasia 
  • Down syndrome 
  • Fanconi anemia 
  • Li-Fraumeni syndrome 
  • Neurofibromatosis type 1 

What are the symptoms of leukemia in children?

 symptoms of leukemia may include:

• Feeling tired 
• Fever or night sweats 
• Easy bruising or bleeding 
• Weight loss or loss of appetite 
• Petechiae, which are tiny red dots under the skin. They are caused by bleeding. 

What are the treatments for leukemia in children?

The treatments for leukemia depend on which type it is, how severe the leukemia is, the child's age, and other factors. Possible treatments might include:

• chemotherapy 
• radiation therapy 
• Chemotherapy with stem cell transplant 
• Targeted therapy, which uses drugs or other substances that attack specific cancer cells with less harm to normal cells 

Treatment for childhood leukemia is often successful. But the treatments can cause complications right away or later in life. Children who survived leukemia will need follow-up care for the rest of their lives to watch for and treat any complications they may have.