Wellness Café

When children get cancer

Aug 30, 2026

No one wants to hear that a child has cancer. Fortunately, childhood cancer is rare and accounts for less than 1% of all cancers.

The danger is that many childhood cancers progress very quickly, so it’s important for caregivers to be aware of warning signs – and seek help.

With September being Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, now is the time to learn more.

How childhood cancer is different

All cancers are a result of mutations (changes) to the DNA (the body’s genetic instruction manual). These mutations cause cells to grow abnormally and out of control, creating tumours/masses or abnormalities in blood cells.

In adults, this can be the result of external triggers, such as smoking or sun damage, although many adult cancers develop with no clear cause. But in children, these mutations usually occur due to random, accidental changes in DNA.

Whereas in adults, tens or hundreds of mutations may be behind cancer, in children it may be just one or two – important for targeted treatment. What’s more, children typically handle chemotherapy better than adults and treatment success rates can exceed 80%.

Common types of childhood cancer

Children tend to develop different types of cancers, many of which grow rapidly. If they do develop the same type of cancer as an adult, it often has different symptoms and needs different medical treatments.

The five most common childhood cancers in South Africa

Leukaemia – blood and bone marrow
Lymphomas – lymphatic system
Brain and other nervous system tumours
Wilms tumour – a type of kidney cancer
Soft tissue sarcomas – growths in connective tissue

Warning signs

Each type of childhood cancer can have different symptoms. Adding to the challenge is the fact that many of these symptoms resemble everyday childhood illnesses or injuries.

Look out for:

persistent and unusual tiredness.
unusually pale gums and in inside the lower eyelids, paler than usual skin.
persistent fever.
frequent unexplained bruising or bleeding.
chronic bone or joint pain.
unexplained weight loss.
persistent headaches, especially with vomiting.
a lump or swelling anywhere on the body.
a white reflection in the pupil – this may be picked up on flash photos.
changes in eyesight.
ongoing redness and inflammation in the eye.

Although these symptoms usually have a less serious cause, if your child has unexplained symptoms that don’t go away, they should be checked out by a doctor.

Can childhood cancer be treated?

The outlook for children with cancer has dramatically improved in the past few decades. Treatment success depends on the type of cancer and how early treatment begins, but thanks to advances in diagnosis and treatment, the future is brighter than ever before.

Noticing any unusual symptoms – and seeking prompt medical attention – gives children the best possible chance of early diagnosis, successful treatment and long-term recovery.

Reference

CANSA

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