Unusual Cancers of Childhood

Cancer in children and teenagers is rare. Since 1975, the number of new cases of childhood cancer has slowly increased and the number of deaths from childhood cancer has decreased by more than half.

Unusual cancers are so rare that most children’s hospitals might see less than a handful of some types in several years. Because the unusual cancers are so rare, there is not a lot of information about what treatment works best. A child’s treatment is often based on what has been learned from treating other children. Sometimes, information is available only from reports of the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of one child or a small group of children who were given the same type of treatment.

Many different cancers are covered here, grouped by where they are found in the body. You’ll find details on unusual childhood cancers of the head and neck, the chest, the abdomen, the reproductive and urinary system, and other rare and unusual cancers of childhood below.

Source: National Cancer Institute