• Question: What’s the most common cancer in children?

    Asked by anon-327764 on 10 Jun 2022.
    • Photo: Zahra Massoud

      Zahra Massoud answered on 10 Jun 2022:

      Leukaemias (blood cancers) are by far the most common type in children – about 30% of cancers in kids are blood cancer. Brain cancers are also quite common in children

    • Photo: Karin Purshouse

      Karin Purshouse answered on 10 Jun 2022: last edited 11 Jun 2022 10:08 am

      Hi, so I only look after adults so although Zahra has answered your question, I was interested to learn more on the Cancer Research UK website as its not something I know much about!
      It’s interesting to me because the spread is quite different to how it is in adults. Apparently, leukaemias and lymphomas (cancers of the blood and lymphatic systems), and cancers that affect the brain/nervous system make up two thirds of all cancers diagnosed in children. In contrast, leukaemia is the 12th commonest cancer in the UK overall (which includes adults).

      It’s interesting that the pattern is so different between adults and children.

Comments