Childhood Sarcoma Causes and Risk Factors
Unfortunately, the exact causes of childhood sarcoma are not yet known. The survival rate is often high for tumors that have not spread to other parts of the body. As with most cancers, sarcomas that spread are harder to cure, but many children do survive.
Like most cancers, sarcomas can result from gene mutations that cause cells to grow uncontrollably and become cancerous. In children, these mutations are rarely caused by factors that can be controlled, so it is difficult to minimize their risk of developing cancer.
In some cases, genetic testing can help identify children who are more likely to be at risk of developing cancer. The Cancer Susceptibility Program at Children’s Health provides families of children who have an increased likelihood of developing cancer access to the most advanced genetic counseling, ongoing screening, and oncology specialists. We identify children who, due to genetics, are more likely to develop some forms of cancer and watch over them to detect and, if necessary, treat any cancer as early as possible.
