Expert describes impact, treatment of childhood brain and spine cancers

Cancers of the brain and spinal cord have surpassed leukemia as the largest cause of cancer death in children. More than 50 types of these tumors can appear in children, often as very different types than seen in adults. Diagnosis is often made through a biopsy or medical imaging, and a parent‘s description of a child‘s symptoms can lead the way, says Cancers of the brain and spinal cord have surpassed leukemia as the largest cause of cancer death in children. More than 50 types of these tumors can appear in children, often as very different types than seen in adults. Diagnosis is often made through a biopsy or medical imaging, and a parent‘s description of a child‘s symptoms can lead the way, says Melanie Comito, MD Melanie Comito, MD, Upstate‘s chief of pediatric hematology and oncology. She describes the impact of these tumors, the importance of tumor location and grade and the array of treatment options available to children at Upstate., Upstate‘s chief of pediatric hematology and oncology. She describes the impact of these tumors, the importance of tumor location and grade and the array of treatment options available to children at Upstate.