Cancers are a group of diseases that occur due to abnormal cell growth. Cancers that occur in children may vary significantly from adult cancers. Leukemia and various types of brain tumors are the two most common cancers found in children.

Most childhood cancers are diagnosed through a physical examination and a series of detailed tests. Physicians may use blood tests, x-rays, CAT scans or tissue biopsies to aid in the diagnosis of the cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), most children are treated at a specialized children’s cancer hospital using a cancer care team. The team may include specialists such as pediatricians, oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists and pathologists.

The treatment for children’s cancers, as in adults, depends on the location, type and severity of the cancer. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, as well as other forms of treatment, can be used to treat children’s cancers. These therapies may be used alone or in various combinations for the most effective treatment.

The survival rate for children’s cancers is dependent on the type of cancer and the stage. During recent years, the survival rate for children’s cancer has improved because of more advanced treatments. Ongoing research is promising for early detection of childhood cancers as well as improved treatment methods for longer survival.