Cancer in children and adolescents is rare. Since 1975, the number of new cases of childhood cancer has slowly increased. Since 1975, the number of deaths from childhood cancer has decreased by more than half.
The cancers listed in this summary are so rare that most children's hospitals are likely to see less than a handful of some types in several years. Because these cancers are so rare, there is not a lot of information about what treatment works best. A child's treatment is often based on what has been learned from treating other children. Sometimes, information is available only from reports of the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of one child or a small group of children who were given the same type of treatment.
Molecular testing of tumors can sometimes help plan treatment. Children newly diagnosed with a rare cancer listed below may be eligible for molecular testing through the Molecular Characterization Initiative.
The Molecular Characterization Initiative offers free molecular testing to children, adolescents, and young adults with certain types of newly diagnosed cancer. The program is offered through NCI's Childhood Cancer Data Initiative. To learn more, visit About the Molecular Characterization Initiative.
Many different cancers are listed in this summary. They are grouped by where they are found in the body.
The Rare Cancers of Childhood Treatment summary has been separated into individual summaries for each topic. Please use the lists below or the following link to find the individual summaries: PDQ Cancer Information Summaries: Pediatric Treatment.
For more information, see Childhood Nasopharyngeal Cancer Treatment.
For more information, see Childhood Esthesioneuroblastoma.
For more information, see Childhood Thyroid Cancer.
For more information, see Childhood Oral Cavity Cancer.
For more information, see Childhood Salivary Gland Tumors.
For more information, see Childhood Laryngeal Tumors.
For more information, see Childhood NUT Carcinoma.
For more information, see Childhood Breast Cancer Treatment.
For more information, see:
For more information, see Childhood Esophageal Cancer Treatment.
For more information, see Childhood Thymoma and Thymic Carcinoma Treatment.
For more information, see Childhood Heart Tumors.
For more information, see Childhood Adrenocortical Carcinoma Treatment.
For more information, see Childhood Stomach Cancer.
For more information, see Childhood Pancreatic Cancer Treatment.
For more information, see Childhood Colorectal Cancer Treatment.
For more information, see Childhood Gastrointestinal Neuroendocrine Tumors Treatment.
For more information, see Childhood Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors Treatment.
For more information, see Childhood Bladder Cancer.
For more information, see Childhood Testicular Cancer.
For more information, see Childhood Ovarian Cancer.
For more information, see Childhood Cervical and Vaginal Cancers.
For more information, see Childhood Mesothelioma Treatment.
For more information, see Childhood Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN) Syndromes Treatment.
For more information, see Childhood Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma Treatment.
For more information, see:
For more information, see Childhood Intraocular (Uveal) Melanoma Treatment.
For more information, see Childhood Chordoma Treatment.
For more information, see Childhood Carcinoma of Unknown Primary Treatment.
For more information from the National Cancer Institute about rare cancers of childhood, see:
For more childhood cancer information and other general cancer resources, visit:
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This PDQ cancer information summary has current information about the treatment of rare cancers of childhood. It is meant to inform and help patients, families, and caregivers. It does not give formal guidelines or recommendations for making decisions about health care.
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The information in this patient summary was taken from the health professional version, which is reviewed regularly and updated as needed, by the PDQ Pediatric Treatment Editorial Board.
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The best way to cite this PDQ summary is:
PDQ® Pediatric Treatment Editorial Board. PDQ Rare Cancers of Childhood Treatment. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute. Updated <MM/DD/YYYY>. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/types/childhood-cancers/patient/rare-childhood-cancers-pdq. Accessed <MM/DD/YYYY>. [PMID: 26389276]
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