Types of childhood cancer

Leukaemia is a type of blood cancer. Leukaemias are the most common group of childhood cancers, accounting for approximately 1 in 3 cases every year.

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is a type of blood cancer. Around 400 children develop ALL in the UK each year.

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a type of blood cancer. Around 80 children develop AML in the UK each year.

Brain tumours are the most common tumours that develop in children. Children of any age can be affected. About 400 children in the UK develop brain tumours each year. Boys are affected slightly more often than girls.

Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer. Lymphomas are the third most common group of children's cancers, accounting for around 1 in 10 new cases each year in the UK.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of blood cancer. About 80 children of all ages develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in the UK each year. It is more common in boys than girls.

Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that occurs in the lymphatic system. It can affect children at any age but is more common in older teenagers and young adults. Each year in the UK, around 70 children aged 0-14 years are diagnosed with Hodgkin…

Neuroblastoma is the second most common solid tumour in children after brain tumours and makes up 6% of the total number of childhood cancer diagnoses.

Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children. Around 55 children are diagnosed in the UK each year. Most of them are younger than 10 years old. It is more common in boys than girls.

Osteosarcoma is a type of bone cancer. About 35 children in the UK develop osteosarcomas each year. These tumours occur more commonly in older children and teenagers and are very rarely seen in children under five.

Ewing sarcoma is a type of bone cancer in children and young people. It is the second most common primary bone sarcoma in children and young people. Approximately 30 children in the UK develop Ewing sarcoma each year. It usually occurs in the teenage…

Wilms tumours are the most common type of kidney (renal) cancer in children. About 90 children in the UK are diagnosed with a Wilms tumour each year. It most often affects children under the age of seven.

Retinoblastoma is cancer of the retina, the light sensitive lining of the eye. It usually affects children under five and about 40 to 50 cases are diagnosed in the UK each year. Treatment is very effective and nearly all (98 out of 100) children with…

Approximately 20 children in the UK develop primary liver tumours each year. Boys are affected more commonly than girls. Liver tumours can be non-cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). This information is about malignant liver tumours.

Approximately 50 children in the UK develop malignant germ cell tumours each year. Most children who develop germ cell tumours will be cured.

CCLG produces a series of factsheets on each of the main types of childhood cancer, with information about diagnosis and treatment. Although these are designed for parents, the information will be useful to those involved in the care of children and supporting the family.