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The growth of childhood cancer is a major source of concern for health organizations all over the world. Childhood Cancer International (CCI) reports that 400,000 children and adolescents under the age of 20 are diagnosed each year.

Click on to learn more about the most common types of the disease and how to treat it.

▲The international cancer research agency has warned of the need for joint global action to address the growing challenge posed by the disease.

▲Although the number of children with cancer is much lower, compared to the overall incidence of the disease in adults, the chances of surviving is much greater in children, says CCI.

▲CCI reported that survival rates in developed countries average 84% and that these numbers are improving consistently, even in areas with fewer resources.

▲Early stages of childhood cancer are often difficult to diagnose, especially as the symptoms can be confused with common childhood diseases such as viruses and colds.

▲The CCI campaign also showed a disparity in access to treatment for childhood cancer in low and middle-income countries, where 80% of children and adolescents with cancer live.

▲Children and teenagers in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and parts of Eastern Europe have difficult access to essential medicines and specialized care.

▲Therefore, the organization also said that the place where the child resides ultimately determines their ability to survive childhood cancer.

▲The most common variations of the disease in children are: Acute Lymphocytic (or Lymphoid) Leukemia, Wilms' Tumor, Retinoblastoma, Neuroblastoma, Rhabdomyosarcoma, Central Nervous System (Spinal Cord Brain) Tumors, Primary Bone Tumors, Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

▲According to the American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO), this type of cancer affects bone marrow and blood. It constitutes about 30% of all childhood cancer cases.

▲The two most common types are acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Both can spread rapidly and require immediate treatment.

▲It can affect one or two kidneys. It is most common among children in ages between three and four years old. It accounts for 5% of cases of childhood cancer.

▲It originates in retina cells. It is more common in children less than two years old, except for rare cases where children over six can be affected. It represents about 2% of cases.

▲It's more common in children during the first two years of life. This type of cancer, which is about 6% of all cases, can appear anywhere in the body.

▲This type of cancer is found in soft tissues, so it is more common in children. It originates from cells that grow in muscles. It represents about 3% of childhood cancers.

▲These are the most common malignant tumors in children after leukemia and lymphomas. Spinal cord tumors are less common than those of the brain, both in adults and children.

▲Brain tumors make up about 26% of all childhood cancers. Treatment and prognosis depend on the exact type and location of the tumor.

▲Primary bone cancer grows in the bones themselves. This is different from metastatic bone cancer, which is a type of cancer that affects other parts of the body but spreads to the bones. Primary bone cancers make up about 3% of childhood cancer. The most common variations in children are osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma.

▲It starts in the immune system and is likely to be found in the lymph nodes, tonsils, thymus, or spleen. Lymphoma is usually a rapidly growing form of cancer and requires immediate treatment.

▲Hodgkin lymphoma accounts for about 3% of childhood cancer and is more common in young adults. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma accounts for about 5% of childhood cancers and is more common in younger children.

▲Childhood cancer is the second leading cause of death in children under 15 following accidental deaths, according to ACCO.

▲The organization warns that research into the development of new, less toxic treatment options has not kept pace with the disease's growth.

▲The ACCO noted that, of the more than 100 new drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 1990, only two have been developed specifically to treat childhood cancer.

▲Many forms of childhood cancer are now considered treatable, with long-term survival rates exceeding 80%, or in some cases, even 90%.

▲Some forms of childhood cancer still have high death rates, and most survivors have long-term health problems.

▲The National Cancer Institute points out that cancers in children are not always treated as those of adults. Pediatric oncology is a medical specialty focused on the care of children with cancer.

▲The types of treatment that a child with cancer will receive depends on the type of cancer and what stage it is in. The most common treatments are: surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and stem cell transplantation.

▲The National Cancer Institute warns that every cancer case and treatment should be studied, in order to find out if the specific treatment is considered safe and effective.

▲Most of the progress made in identifying curative therapies has been achieved through clinical trials.

▲ACCO stresses that children face unique problems in cancer treatments. Children may respond differently to the drugs used to control the symptoms, when compared to adults.

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It is essential that child cancer survivors receive follow-up care to monitor their health after treatment ends, ACCO emphasizes.

Sources: (ICCD) (ACCO) (NCI)