Childhood cancers

  • Different types of cancers that develop in children from birth to 14 years old
  • Leukemia, Brain and central nervous system tumors are the most common cancers in children
  • Environmental factors or individual behaviors do not play a role in developing childhood cancers but rather by genetic changes or mutations
  • unexplained weight loss
  • Headaches, often with early morning vomiting
  • Increased swelling or persistent pain in the bones, joints, back, or legs
  • Lump or swelling, especially in the abdomen, neck, or armpits
  • Development of excessive bruising, bleeding, or rash
  • Constant, frequent, or persistent infections
  • A whitish color behind the pupil
  • Nausea that persists or vomiting without nausea
  • Constant tiredness or noticeable paleness
  • Eye or vision changes that occur suddenly and persist
  • Recurring or persistent fevers of unknown origin

You can reduce your child risk of cancer by:

  • Minimize radiation exposure during pregnancy.
  • Breast feeding for 6 months or longer, reduce your child risk of cancer.
  • Make sure that your child is taking all scheduled vaccines.
  • Help them adopt a healthy lifestyle with healthy eating habits and plenty of exercise to keep a healthy weight:
    • Replace their unhealthy snacks with fruits, vegetables and nuts.
    • Encourage them to play motor games instead of electronic games.
  • Protect your child from smoking:
    • Stop smoking during pregnancy.
    • After birth protect them from passive smoking.
  • Create a happy, laughter filled house; which will improve their immune systems.
  • Keep your children safe during sun exposure (use the sun protection items: sunglasses, sunblock, long sleeves clothes, and wide hats).
  • Keep healthy sleeping pattern for the children.
  • If your child has any Signs and symptoms of Childhood cancer, it does not mean that they have cancer; if your child has any or some of the above symptoms t, it is important to have a check-up with your doctor in a regular manner.

Childhood cancers Statistics

Qatar National Cancer Registry (QNCR) – Ministry of Public Health- Qatar –  2016

  • There were 42 child under 15 years old diagnosed with cancer.
  • 62% of the cases were males, and 38% were females. Furthermore, 38.1% of the cases were Qataris, while 61.9% were Non-Qataris.
  • Most common cancers among children are leukemia which represents 42.86% of all childhood cancers cases.
  • brain and central nervous system which represents 11.9% of all childhood cancers cases.
  • leukemia is the highest cause of cancer death among all childhood cancers.

Childhood cancers Statistics – Worldwide

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) – World Health Organization- 2018

  • There were 200166 child under 15 years old diagnosed with cancer.
  • 26% of the cases were males, and 42.74% were females.
  • most common cancers among children are leukemia which represents 32.53% of all childhood cancers cases.
  • brain and central nervous system which represents 11.98% of all childhood cancers cases.
  • leukemia is the highest cause of cancer death among all childhood cancers.
  • one out of 667 child will develop cancer before age 15.
+ Risk factors
  • Environmental factors or individual behaviors do not play a role in developing childhood cancers but rather by genetic changes or mutations
+ Early signs and symptoms
  • unexplained weight loss
  • Headaches, often with early morning vomiting
  • Increased swelling or persistent pain in the bones, joints, back, or legs
  • Lump or swelling, especially in the abdomen, neck, or armpits
  • Development of excessive bruising, bleeding, or rash
  • Constant, frequent, or persistent infections
  • A whitish color behind the pupil
  • Nausea that persists or vomiting without nausea
  • Constant tiredness or noticeable paleness
  • Eye or vision changes that occur suddenly and persist
  • Recurring or persistent fevers of unknown origin
+ Prevention

You can reduce your child risk of cancer by:

  • Minimize radiation exposure during pregnancy.
  • Breast feeding for 6 months or longer, reduce your child risk of cancer.
  • Make sure that your child is taking all scheduled vaccines.
  • Help them adopt a healthy lifestyle with healthy eating habits and plenty of exercise to keep a healthy weight:
    • Replace their unhealthy snacks with fruits, vegetables and nuts.
    • Encourage them to play motor games instead of electronic games.
  • Protect your child from smoking:
    • Stop smoking during pregnancy.
    • After birth protect them from passive smoking.
  • Create a happy, laughter filled house; which will improve their immune systems.
  • Keep your children safe during sun exposure (use the sun protection items: sunglasses, sunblock, long sleeves clothes, and wide hats).
  • Keep healthy sleeping pattern for the children.
+ Screening
  • If your child has any Signs and symptoms of Childhood cancer, it does not mean that they have cancer; if your child has any or some of the above symptoms t, it is important to have a check-up with your doctor in a regular manner.
+ Statistics

Childhood cancers Statistics

Qatar National Cancer Registry (QNCR) – Ministry of Public Health- Qatar –  2016

  • There were 42 child under 15 years old diagnosed with cancer.
  • 62% of the cases were males, and 38% were females. Furthermore, 38.1% of the cases were Qataris, while 61.9% were Non-Qataris.
  • Most common cancers among children are leukemia which represents 42.86% of all childhood cancers cases.
  • brain and central nervous system which represents 11.9% of all childhood cancers cases.
  • leukemia is the highest cause of cancer death among all childhood cancers.

Childhood cancers Statistics – Worldwide

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) – World Health Organization- 2018

  • There were 200166 child under 15 years old diagnosed with cancer.
  • 26% of the cases were males, and 42.74% were females.
  • most common cancers among children are leukemia which represents 32.53% of all childhood cancers cases.
  • brain and central nervous system which represents 11.98% of all childhood cancers cases.
  • leukemia is the highest cause of cancer death among all childhood cancers.
  • one out of 667 child will develop cancer before age 15.