Based on National Cancer Institute resources
Childhood cancer, explained for families
A cancer diagnosis is frightening at any age, and especially when the patient is a child. These plain-language guides cover the common childhood cancers, how to support your child and their siblings, returning to school, and life after treatment.
A note before you read: this is educational information, not medical advice. Children’s cancers are treated by pediatric specialists, and your child’s care team is the right source for guidance about your family’s situation. You can also reach NCI’s Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER.
Start here
Types of childhood cancer
Plain-language explainers on the cancers most often seen in children.
Childhood Cancer
Adolescents Approaching Medical Independence
Practical, source-based guidance on adolescents approaching medical independence, including planning steps, questions, safety limits, and care-team support.
8 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Attending School During Childhood Cancer Treatment
IEP under IDEA versus a 504 plan, hospital and homebound instruction, and a school nurse re-entry checklist for a child in cancer treatment.
7 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Bone Cancer in Children: Osteosarcoma and Ewing Sarcoma
A plain-language explanation of the two main bone cancers in children and teens — osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma — and how they are treated.
5 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors in Children
A plain-language explanation of brain and central nervous system tumors in children — the second most common childhood cancer group
4 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Childhood Cancer Late Effects: Questions for Follow-Up
Questions families can ask about late effects after childhood cancer, including growth, learning, fertility, heart health, and survivorship plans.
7 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Childhood Cancer Scans and Scanxiety
How families can prepare for childhood cancer scans, waiting, sedation questions, and scanxiety before results.
7 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Childhood Cancer Warning Signs Parents Should Know
Childhood cancer is rare, but some signs deserve a check: lasting lumps, easy bruising, morning headaches with vomiting, or a white glow in a child's eye.
7 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Childhood Germ-Cell Tumors
Practical, source-based guidance on childhood germ-cell tumors, including planning steps, questions, safety limits, and care-team support.
8 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Childhood Leukemia: Types and Treatment
A plain-language explanation of leukemia in children — the most common childhood cancer — including the main types and how it is treated.
8 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Feeding and Appetite Changes in Childhood Cancer
A plain-language guide for parents facing appetite changes, food battles, nausea, mouth sores, feeding tubes, and dietitian questions.
9 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Fertility Questions for Childhood Cancer Survivors
Questions families and survivors can ask about fertility risk, puberty, hormones, pregnancy, and survivorship follow-up after childhood cancer.
7 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Growing Up as a Childhood Cancer Survivor
Childhood cancer survivorship: keeping a treatment summary, COG Long-Term Follow-Up Guidelines, late effects by exposure, and leaving pediatric care.
7 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Helping a Child Take Medicine During Cancer Treatment
Practical questions for parents when a child struggles with cancer medicines, taste, swallowing, nausea, fear, routines, or missed doses.
7 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Hepatoblastoma: A Parent Guide
Practical, source-based guidance on hepatoblastoma a parent guide, including planning steps, questions, safety limits, and care-team support.
9 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Infection Precautions for Children During Cancer Treatment
Questions families can ask about fever plans, school, visitors, handwashing, masks, siblings, and when to call during childhood cancer treatment.
9 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Learning and School After Childhood Cancer
Practical, source-based guidance on learning and school after childhood cancer, including planning steps, questions, safety limits, and care-team support.
8 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Lymphoma in Children: Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin
A plain-language explanation of lymphoma in children — cancer of the lymph system — including Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin types.
5 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Neuroblastoma: A Childhood Cancer Explained
A plain-language explanation of neuroblastoma, a cancer that forms in early nerve cells and mostly affects infants and young children.
4 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Parents Blaming Themselves for Delayed Symptoms
You did not miss it. Childhood cancer is rare, early symptoms look like ordinary illness, and diagnostic delay is common and expected — not negligence.
7 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Pediatric CNS Tumor Types Explained
Practical, source-based guidance on pediatric cns tumor types explained, including planning steps, questions, safety limits, and care-team support.
8 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Questions to Ask About Childhood Cancer Treatment
A parent-friendly question list for childhood cancer treatment decisions, side effects, hospital logistics, school, fertility, trials, and late effects.
7 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Retinoblastoma (Childhood Eye Cancer)
A plain-language explanation of retinoblastoma, a cancer of the eye that mostly affects young children, and how it is treated.
4 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Rhabdomyosarcoma: A Childhood Soft Tissue Cancer
A plain-language explanation of rhabdomyosarcoma, the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children, and how it is treated.
5 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
School 504 Plans During Childhood Cancer
What families can ask about school accommodations, 504 plans, attendance, fatigue, infection precautions, tutoring, and return-to-school after childhood cancer.
8 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Siblings and Hospital Days During Childhood Cancer
How families can support siblings during childhood cancer hospital days, with honest explanations, routines, visits, school, and emotional support.
6 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Supporting Siblings of a Child With Cancer
Siblings of a child with cancer are the most consistently overlooked people in the family. Specific, concrete things that help — from five-minute calls to school.
6 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Talking to Teachers About Childhood Cancer
How caregivers can prepare school conversations about absences, infection precautions, fatigue, learning changes, privacy, and 504 plans.
8 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Teens & Loss of Independence During Cancer Care
Cancer treatment reverses the developmental work of adolescence. Practical ways to give a teenager back real choice, privacy, and a role at home.
5 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Transition to Adult Follow-Up After Childhood Cancer
How childhood cancer survivors can prepare for adult follow-up, treatment summaries, late effects, insurance, fertility, and primary care handoffs.
7 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Transitioning From Pediatric to Adult Oncology Care
Leaving pediatric oncology: getting a treatment summary, using COG long-term follow-up guidelines, and planning for the age-26 insurance change.
5 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
What Pediatric Chemotherapy Is Like for Parents
Pediatric chemo from a parent's side: ports and central lines, blood counts and ANC, the 100.4°F fever rule, when to go straight in, school and infection.
8 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Wilms Tumor (Childhood Kidney Cancer)
A plain-language explanation of Wilms tumor, the most common kidney cancer in children, and how it is treated. Based on the National Cancer Institute.
4 min read · Beginner
Family & school support
Talking with your child and siblings, school reentry, and caring for yourself.
Childhood Cancer
Caring for Yourself as a Parent
Plain-language guidance for parents on managing their own stress and getting support while caring for a child with cancer.
5 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Helping Brothers and Sisters Cope
Plain-language guidance for parents on supporting the brothers and sisters of a child with cancer, who have their own worries and needs.
3 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Returning to School After Cancer
Plain-language guidance for parents on helping a child return to school during or after cancer treatment, including planning with the school and teachers.
4 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Talking to Your Child About Cancer
Practical, plain-language guidance for parents on how to talk with a child about their own cancer diagnosis in an age-appropriate, honest way.
3 min read · Beginner
Treatment & where to go
Children's cancer centers and clinical trials for children.
Childhood Cancer
Clinical Trials for Children With Cancer
A plain-language explanation of how clinical trials work for children with cancer and why they have been central to progress in childhood cancer treatment.
5 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Where Children With Cancer Are Treated
A plain-language explanation of children's cancer centers, the specialists on a pediatric care team, and the Children's Oncology Group.
5 min read · Beginner
Survivorship & follow-up
Life after treatment, follow-up care, and late effects.
Childhood Cancer
Childhood Cancer Survivorship and Follow-Up Care
A plain-language explanation of follow-up care for childhood cancer survivors, including survivorship care plans and specialized clinics.
5 min read · Beginner
Childhood Cancer
Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Treatment
A plain-language explanation of late effects — health problems that can appear months or years after childhood cancer treatment
5 min read · Beginner
Help with costs and coverage
Cancer care can be expensive. These guides explain coverage that can help many families, including Medicaid and, for some, Medicare.