Is Alopecia Areata Like Cancer?

my son has alopecia. i was woundering if that has a risk on life and is it dangerous. he is barely 9 years old and has extreme bald spots and lots of hair loss. i want to know if its like cancer and what the difference

Without seeing photos of your son or knowing anything about his medical history, it is difficult to tell, but from the brief description you gave, it does sound like he has alopecia areata. This is a condition that affects about 1-2% of the population with initial presentation in the teenage years. It is not contagious and is thought to be an autoimmune disorder, and not cancer. It is an inherited process. Since the exact mechanism of hair loss is not known completely known, there is no known cure to date, but in the hands of some specialists who focus on this disease, there are some effective treatments. In 90% of cases the hair will ultimately regrow. It would be wise to have your son seen by his primary care doctor to determine if there are any potential underlying causes of his hair loss and a dermatologist for possible biopsy.