Gold Ribbon · Awareness month: September
Childhood cancer includes many different diseases, each requiring an approach suited to the child and the diagnosis. Learn which changes to discuss with a doctor, how to prepare for care and why research focused on children matters for treatment and life beyond cancer.
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At NFCR, we believe understanding cancer is an important part of fighting it.
Childhood cancer is an umbrella term for many diseases. Leukemia, brain and other central nervous system tumors, and lymphoma are among the most commonly diagnosed groups.
Cancers in children differ from those in adults. Growing bodies can respond differently to treatment, and care must also consider possible effects later in life. Knowing the exact diagnosis helps families understand the decisions ahead.
Different diseases with different care needs
Childhood cancers can begin in different cells and organs. Examples include:
Behind every number is a person
The following U.S. estimates describe cancer for children and adolescents. Age groups are shown separately. Survival varies by diagnosis and cannot predict an individual child’s outcome.
U.S. estimates for 2026 · Source: American Cancer Society
Recognizing possible childhood cancer symptoms
Many childhood illnesses share symptoms with cancer. Discuss persistent or unexplained changes with your child’s healthcare professional.
Understanding childhood cancer risk
Most childhood cancers do not have a strong link to the lifestyle factors often associated with adult cancers. There are few established ways to prevent them.
Some children inherit changes that increase cancer risk.
Many cancer-related changes arise during life rather than being inherited.
If your family history concerns you, ask whether genetic counseling would be appropriate.
Keep your child’s medical history and relevant family history available for appointments. A healthcare professional can explain whether those details affect care.
How childhood cancer is diagnosed
An evaluation is guided by the child’s symptoms and medical history. The tests needed depend on the suspected disease.
Tell your child’s doctor what you have noticed and how it has changed over time.
Ask which tests are needed, what they can show and how the findings will be explained.
If cancer is found, ask for its full name and an explanation of its extent and the results that guide treatment.
Ask who coordinates care and whom to contact with new concerns. Keep reports and questions together.
Exploring childhood cancer treatment
Treatment is planned around the cancer and the child. Growing bodies may be more sensitive to some treatment effects, so discussions should include both the immediate goal and possible longer-term effects.
Medicines that attack rapidly dividing cells are used for many childhood cancers.
These may be considered for particular diagnoses; their use depends on the cancer and the child’s circumstances.
Some approaches help immune cells recognize cancer. Research has included engineering T cells to recognize certain leukemia and lymphoma cells.
Ask which options are established for your child’s diagnosis and whether a clinical trial is appropriate. Experimental combinations described in research reports should not be treated as proven treatments.
Planning beyond treatment: Some children experience effects of treatment as they grow or later in life. Ask the care team which follow-up and support needs to plan for during and after treatment.
After a childhood cancer diagnosis
Parents and caregivers may need to absorb unfamiliar information while helping a child through appointments. Begin with the diagnosis, the proposed plan and the questions that matter most to your family.
Childhood Cancer — A few steps can help
A few steps can help
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Children need treatments developed with their cancers and their growing bodies in mind. Research aims to find more effective approaches while addressing the lasting effects that treatment can have. Studies of pediatric tumors and engineered immune cells offer different routes toward that goal.
We support research into treatments for childhood cancers that remain difficult to treat. Cesare Spadoni investigates drug combinations for medulloblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma. We also supported Laurence Cooper’s work on engineering T cells to recognize CD19-positive leukemia and lymphoma cells. These projects address different diseases and stages of research; they do not represent a single treatment for all children.
Meet current and past-supported scientists in our childhood cancer portfolio. Their work includes research specific to this disease and broader studies of cancer biology and treatment.
Investigates experimental drug combinations that act on multiple targets in medulloblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma. His work seeks to develop treatment approaches for children whose cancers are difficult to treat.
Learn about Cesare Spadoni’s research
Developed ways to genetically modify T cells so they recognize CD19 on certain leukemia and lymphoma cells. We supported this immunotherapy research from 2004 to 2015.
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