What is cancer?
In most cases, we do not know why a child or teenager develops cancer. Lifestyle and environment do not play a role. Only a small number of childhood cancers are hereditary. So it is no one’s fault, sometimes cancer just happens. Sometimes getting cancer is a matter of bad luck.
How does cancer develop?
Your body is made up of billions of cells. These cells divide every day, creating new ones. New cells help you grow and keep your body healthy. In a healthy body, this process is balanced. Old cells disappear and new cells are only made when they are needed.
With cancer, this balance is disrupted. One cell starts to behave differently and keeps dividing. This creates ‘abnormal cells’. These abnormal cells can form a tumor or spread through the bloodstream. They can also spread to other parts of the body. Because cancer cells grow and divide quickly, they take up more and more space. This can put pressure on healthy organs and blood cells. That is why cancer is called a malignant disease.
Cancer is usually named after the type of cell or tissue where it starts, for example blood, bone, or brain tissue.
Different from cancer in adults
Children and teenagers usually develop different types of cancer than adults. For example, acute lymphoblastic leukemia mainly occurs in children, while chronic lymphocytic leukemia mostly occurs in adults. Children more often develop blastomas, while adults more often develop carcinomas.
Cancer in children and teenagers usually responds better to treatment than cancer in adults. Children and teenagers can also tolerate higher doses of chemotherapy because their bodies recover more quickly.