How to say the names of five paediatric cancers

Correct pronunciation of some hard to say childhood cancer types

Every September for Children’s Cancer Awareness Month we remember the many children whose childhoods were and are interrupted by cancer, and we honour the brilliant science minds and healthcare professionals committed to creating a world where children’s cancer doesn’t exist. 

This month is a chance for everyone to focus their efforts on learning more about and raising awareness of the devastating hardships childhood cancer brings to families. It is also a time to show support for the dedicated childhood cancer charities whose work focuses on finding better children’s cancer outcomes, now and in the future.  

Why children’s cancers are different from adults

Children’s cancers differ to most adult types in that their cause cannot be strongly linked to lifestyle and environment. Additionally, only a small number of childhood cancers are known to evolve from DNA (gene) changes that are passed from parents to their child¹.  

So much remains unknown about children’s cancers and that is why continued funding of clinical research and trials is vital. 

How do I say that?

Childhood cancers have some tricky names. We brought you the pronunciations of 8 common types last year. Here are five more names of children’s cancer and how to say them.

1. Astrocytoma

Pronounced: (as-tro-sigh-toma)

Astrocytoma is a: Brain cancer

Astrocytoma occurs in the supportive tissue of the brain (astrocytes). On average only 22% of children survive brain cancer.