Childhood cancer types
Information on the most common types of cancers in children
The most common types of cancers that happen in children and teens are different to those seen in adults.
The information below gives an overview of the more common types of pediatric cancers and where you can find additional information and support.
13 11 20 is our free, confidential telephone information and support service run by Cancer Councils in each state and territory. Please call 13 11 20 to talk to specially trained staff, who are available to answer your questions about cancer and offer emotional or practical 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 of childhood leukaemia are there?
There are three types:
- Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)
- Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)
- Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML – this type is extremely rare).
More information
For further information about childhood leukaemia on the Leukaemia Foundation website, you can visit the following links:
- Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) information
- Talking to kids about their blood cancer
- Talking to adolescents and young adults about their blood cancer
Bone cancers
What types of bone cancer are there?
The two most common types of bone cancer seen in children are:
- Osteosarcoma
- Ewing sarcoma
More information:
You can download our fact sheet here - Understanding primary bone cancer.
For further information about bone cancers, you can also:
- Visit Cancer Australia’s page about bone tumours
Brain and central nervous system (CNS) tumours
What types of brain cancer 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.
More information:
You can visit our childhood cancer page to learn more about individual cancer treatments.
For further information about brain tumours, you can also:
- Read Cancer Council NSW’s section about Brain tumours in children
Germ cell tumours
Germ cell tumours develop from the cells that produce eggs and sperm.
More information:
For further information about germ cell tumours on the Macmillan Cancer Support (UK) website, you can visit the following links:
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 of lymphoma are there?
There are two main types of childhood lymphomas:
- Hodgkin lymphomas (sometimes called Hodgkin's disease)
- Non-Hodgkin lymphomas
More information:
You can visit the Leukaemia’s Foundation page about childhood lymphoma.
For further information about childhood lymphomas on the American Cancer Society website, you can visit the following links:
Neuroblastoma
Neuroblastoma is a cancer developing 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.
More information
You can visit our childhood cancer page to learn more about individual cancer treatments.
For further information about neuroblastomas, you can also visit the following websites:
Retinoblastoma
Retinoblastoma is a rare type of eye cancer in children. It is a tumour that affects the retina (the light-sensitive lining of the eye).
What types of retinoblastoma are there?
They are two forms of retinoblastoma:
- Heritable form
- Non-heritable form (unilateral)
More information:
You can visit Cancer’s Australia page for more information about retinoblastoma.
Rhabdomyosarcoma
This is a type of soft tissue sarcoma that develops in the muscle or fibrous tissue anywhere in the body.
More information:
For further information on rhabdomyosarcoma, you can visit the following websites:
- American Cancer Society
- 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.
This is a type of soft tissue sarcoma that develops in the muscle or fibrous tissue anywhere in the body.
Wilm's tumours
Wilms tumours are sometimes called nephroblastomas. They are a type of kidney cancer.
More information:
For further information on Wilms tumours, you can visit the following websites:
Find out more about children, teens, and young adult cancers