8 Cancers You Don’t Want Your Children to Ever Get

Cancer is the leading disease-related cause of death in children under 14

years of age! This is a fact that left me wondering, with despair, what
kinds of cancer crop up in our children this often, why is it happening
and what can we do to reverse this tragic trend?

According to the American Cancer Society, leukemia, brain and nervous

system cancers, neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, lymphoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, retinoblastoma
and bone cancers are the eight primary types of childhood cancers. And within these groups are
subgroups of other kinds of cancers–seemingly endless. When we think about it, this shouldn't
surprise us given our lifestyle and western diet that we follow and that our children are also
following.

In 1931, Dr. Otto Warburg made a conclusive determination that cancer will live and proliferate
in an acidic environment. Conversely, cancer will die in an alkaline environment. Based upon
this seeming simplistic finding by a Nobel Prize winning scientist, it's safe to say that we are
creating horrendously acidic children. And is it any wonder? Our diets are full of animal protein,
saturated fat, fake sugars and empty calories; we stop for fast food all the time because it is easy
and convenient. And we now know that 70 gallons of soda pop, on average, is being consumed
by every person in the United States–most of which is downed by children. The advent of
unlimited soda every time we walk into a Taco Bell, a MacDonald's or any other fast food
restaurant is literally a killer.

These growing statistics aren't new. They have been spinning out of control for the last two
decades and if we don't start a trend in a better direction, we will be killing off so many of our
young, we will be left a world of wrinkled old people with no new blood to carry life on.

But there is good in light of all this bad news. We now know what we MUST do to turn the tide.
An alkaline diet is good for starters. Next, we need to put in place within our homes a system
that produces alkaline water for every member of the family to start drinking immediately.
According to Hiromi Shinya, M.D., the very best alkaline water on the planet is Kangen
Water(TM) quite possibly because 6500 medical doctors in Japan have decided that it is.
Detailed Guide: Cancer in Children
What Are the Types of Childhood Cancers?
Leukemia

Leukemias are the most common childhood cancers. They account for about 33% of all
childhood cancers. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)
are the most common types of leukemia in children. Leukemia may be cause bone and joint pain,
weakness, bleeding, fever, weight loss, and other symptoms. For more information see our
document Childhood Leukemia.

Brain and nervous system cancers

Brain and other nervous system cancers are the second most common cancers in children,
making up about 21% of childhood cancers. Most brain cancers of children involve the
cerebellum or brain stem. In early stages they can cause headaches, nausea, vomiting, blurred or
double vision, dizziness, and trouble walking or handling objects. Adults are more likely to
develop cancers in different parts of the brain--usually the cerebral hemispheres. Spinal cord
tumors are less common than brain tumors in both children and adults. For more information see
our document Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors in Children.

Neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is a form of cancer that starts in certain types of nerve cells found in a developing
embryo or fetus. This type of cancer occurs in infants and young children. It is most often found
during the first year of life. It is rarely found in children older than 10. This tumor can start
anywhere but usually occurs in the belly (abdomen) and is noticed as swelling. It can also cause
bone pain and fever. It accounts for about 7% of childhood cancers. For more information see
our document Neuroblastoma.

Wilms tumor

Wilms tumor is a cancer that starts in one, or rarely, both kidneys. It is most often found in
children about 3 years old, and is uncommon in children older than age 6. It can show up as a
swelling or lump in the belly (abdomen). Sometimes the child may have other symptoms, such as
fever, pain, or poor appetite. Wilms tumor accounts for about 5% of childhood cancers. For more
information see our document Wilms Tumor.

Lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma (sometimes called Hodgkin disease,

Hodgkin's disease, or Hodgkin's lymphoma), are cancers that start in lymph tissues, such as the
tonsils, lymph nodes, and thymus. These cancers may spread to bone marrow and other organs,
which can cause different symptoms depending on where it is growing. They also can cause
fever, sweats, weakness, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpit, or groin.

Hodgkin lymphoma can occur in both children and adults, and accounts for about 4% of
childhood cancers. It is more common, though, in 2 age groups: early adulthood (age 15 to 40,
usually people in their 20s) and late adulthood (after age 55). Hodgkin lymphoma is rare in
children younger than 5 years of age. About 10% to 15% of cases are diagnosed in children and
teenagers.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma makes up a little more than 4% of childhood cancers, and can cause
symptoms much like those of Hodgkin lymphoma. It can also cause other symptoms depending
on where it starts in the body. For more information see our document Childhood Non-Hodgkin
Lymphoma.

Rhabdomyosarcoma

Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children. It makes up a little
more than 3% of childhood cancers. This tumor starts in the same embryonic cells that develop
into striated (voluntary) muscles. It can happen in the head and neck, groin, abdomen, pelvis,
arms and legs. It may cause pain, swelling (a lump), or both. For more information see our
document Rhabdomyosarcoma.

Retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma is a cancer of the eye. It is rare, accounting for just under 3% of childhood
cancers. It usually occurs in children under the age of 4, and is seldom found in children older
than 6. For more information see our document Retinoblastoma.

Bone cancers

Primary bone cancers (cancers that start in the bones) occur most often in children and
adolescents. Primary bone cancer is different from metastatic bone cancer, which is cancer that
has spread from another site to the bone. Metastatic bone cancer is named for the place the
cancer came from. For instance, it might be described as prostate cancer that has spread
(metastasized) to the bone, or prostate cancer with bone metastasis.

Metastatic bone cancer is more common than primary bone cancer because many types of cancer
can spread to the bone. Two types of primary bone cancers occur in children:

Osteosarcoma is uncommon, accounting for almost 3% of all new childhood cancer cases
in the United States. It often causes no pain or symptoms until swelling starts, but
sometimes there is bone pain that keeps getting worse. For more information see our
document Osteosarcoma.

Ewing sarcoma is a less common primary bone cancer which can cause bone pain. It is
mostly found in adolescents. It accounts for a little more than 1% of childhood cancers.
For more information see our document Ewing Family of Tumors.

Last Medical Review: 05/19/2009

Last Revised: 05/19/2009