Types of children’s cancers

Information on the most common types of cancers in children

The most common types of cancers that happen in children are different from those seen in adults. The information below gives an overview of the more common types of childhood cancer and where you can find additional information and support.

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

What is it?

Leukaemia is a cancer of the blood that starts in the bone marrow and spreads into the bloodstream.

What types are there?

There are three types of childhood leukaemia:

acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)
acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)
chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML which is extremely rare).

More information

Call Cancer Council on 13 11 20 for information and support
Understanding acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in children
Coping with childhood leukaemia
Young adults with a blood cancer

Lymphoma

Lymphomas begin in cells called lymphocytes. They most often affect the small glands in the body known as lymph nodes and other lymph tissues.

What types are there?

There are two main types of childhood lymphomas:

Hodgkin lymphomas (sometimes called Hodgkin's disease)
non-Hodgkin lymphomas

More information

Call 13 11 20 for more information and support or download this Leukaemia Foundation booklet.

Young adults with a blood cancer

Childhood lymphomas on the American Cancer Society website at the links below:

Brain and central nervous system (CNS) tumours

What types are there?

There are two main types of childhood brain and central nervous system tumours:

gliomas (astrocytomas and ependymomas)
medulloblastoma.

Brain tumours can be either primary (the tumour starts to grow in the brain) or secondary (more commonly called brain or cerebral metastases), which happen when cancer cells from other parts of the body spread to the brain.

What treatments are available?

The main treatment used for childhood brain and CNS tumours is surgery, where possible, often followed by radiation therapy or chemotherapy after the operation.

For more information about individual treatments refer to our section on treating childhood cancers.

More information

Read Cancer Council Victoria's section about Caring for a child with a brain tumour
You can also call Cancer Council 13 11 20.

Bone cancers (including Osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma)

What types are there?

The two most common types of bone cancer seen in children are:

osteosarcoma
Ewing sarcoma

More information

Download our fact sheet, Primary bone cancer
Visit Cancer Australia’s Children’s cancer page
You can also call 13 11 20 for more information and support.

Rhabdomyosarcoma

This is a type of soft tissue sarcoma that develops in the muscle or fibrous tissue anywhere in the body.

More information

Call 13 11 20 for more information and support or read the information on the following cancer patient websites:

Rare Cancers Australia
European Paediatric Soft Tissue Sarcoma Group (EpSSG) - EpSSG is a group that coordinates clinical trials for children with rhabdomyosarcoma. The website has information about treating these types of tumours.

Neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is a cancer that develops from nerve tissue that is normally present around the chest, abdomen and adrenal glands, found above the kidneys.

What treatments are available?

The main treatment used for childhood neuroblastoma is surgery to remove the tumour, in combination with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Newer treatments such as biotherapy and nuclear medicine are being researched to help treat children with neuroblastomas.

For more information about individual treatments refer to our section on treating childhood cancers.