Childhood cancers
Childhood cancers are Different types of cancer that develop in children.
- Radiation:
- Environmental radiation.
- Radiation during pregnancy.
- Excessive exposure to the ultraviolet radiation.
- Infections: some of childhood cancers are caused by some viral infections.
- Mother active or passive smoking during pregnancy, or during the period prior to conception.
- Inherited genetic abnormalities.
- Continued, unexplained weight loss.
- Headaches, often with early morning vomiting.
- Increased swelling or persistent pain in bones, joints, back, or legs.
- Lump or mass, especially in the abdomen, neck, chest, pelvis, or armpits.
- Development of excessive bruising, bleeding, or rash.
- Constant infections.
- Awhitish color behind the pupil.
- Nausea which persists or vomiting without nausea.
- Constant tiredness or noticeable paleness.
- Eye or vision changes which occur suddenly and persist.
- Recurrent 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.
- Parents should be sure that their children have regular medical check-ups and watch for any unusual signs or symptoms that do not go away.
- Some children have a higher chance of developing a specific type of cancer because of certain gene changes they inherit from a parent. These children may need careful, regular medical check-ups that include special tests to look for early signs of cancer.
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
-
- Radiation:
- Environmental radiation.
- Radiation during pregnancy.
- Excessive exposure to the ultraviolet radiation.
- Infections: some of childhood cancers are caused by some viral infections.
- Mother active or passive smoking during pregnancy, or during the period prior to conception.
- Inherited genetic abnormalities.
- Radiation:
- + Early signs and symptoms
-
- Continued, unexplained weight loss.
- Headaches, often with early morning vomiting.
- Increased swelling or persistent pain in bones, joints, back, or legs.
- Lump or mass, especially in the abdomen, neck, chest, pelvis, or armpits.
- Development of excessive bruising, bleeding, or rash.
- Constant infections.
- Awhitish color behind the pupil.
- Nausea which persists or vomiting without nausea.
- Constant tiredness or noticeable paleness.
- Eye or vision changes which occur suddenly and persist.
- Recurrent 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
-
- Parents should be sure that their children have regular medical check-ups and watch for any unusual signs or symptoms that do not go away.
- Some children have a higher chance of developing a specific type of cancer because of certain gene changes they inherit from a parent. These children may need careful, regular medical check-ups that include special tests to look for early signs of cancer.
- + 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.