The causes of childhood cancer are not completely understood. While adult cancers are usually linked to lifestyle or environmental factors, cancer in children is different in several ways. In a young person, cancer is less likely to be caused by the patient’s environment or lifestyle, even though environmental factors can play a role. Instead, the cause is often genetic changes that occur before birth or early in childhood. Most often, these genetic changes (called mutations) are thought to occur by chance. In a few cases children are born with genetic changes that increase their risk of getting cancer. Learning what genetic changes caused a cancer can help doctors diagnose it more effectively. Going forward, this information may also help scientists develop better treatments.
In 2014, the American Cancer Society estimates that almost 16,000 children (age birth to 19 years) will be diagnosed with cancer in the United States.1 Fortunately, as a result of improved therapies, survival among pediatric cancer patients is high, with more than 80% living beyond 5 years from diagnosis.2 However, life-saving cancer therapy is costly and may result in financial burden for these patients' families. In 2009, pediatric cancer hospitalization cost in the United States averaged $40,400, nearly five times higher than hospitalization for any other pediatric condition ($8,100). The greatest costs were for leukemia ($55,700) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma ($46,900).3 These high costs may be driven by unexpected procedures during cancer treatment, including treatment of infections,4 pain, septicemia,5 and dehydration, which often require additional hospitalizations.
Source: https://www.stjude.org/treatment/pediatric-oncology/childhood-cancer-facts.html
In the United States in 2017, an estimated 10,270 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed among children from birth to 14 years, and about 1,190 children are expected to die from the disease. Although pediatric cancer death rates have declined by nearly 70 percent over the past four decades, cancer remains the leading cause of death from disease among children. The major types of cancers in children ages 0 to 14 years are acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), brain and other central nervous system (CNS) tumors, and neuroblastoma, which are expected to account for more than half of new cases in 2017.
Source: https://www.cancer.gov
Childhood cancer remains the leading cause of death by disease among children in the United States. Every day, 43 children are diagnosed with cancer and the average age of diagnosis is 6. Cancer affects all ethnic, gender, and socio-economic groups and more than 40,000 children undergo treatment for cancer each year.
Source: curesearch.org/Research
Treatment depends on the type of cancer. Treatments often include surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Sometimes a patient receives more than one of these treatments. The length of time needed for treatment differs depending on the type of cancer.
After Treatment: Becoming a Long-Term Survivor : In general, treatments take several months or even years. Researchers and doctors are working on new therapies for children with cancer. Some of these treatments, called precision medicine, target specific genetic changes in the cancer.
Source: https://www.stjude.org/treatment/pediatric-oncology/childhood-cancer-facts.html
Families, caregivers, charities and research groups across the United States observe September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. In the U.S., 15,780 children under the age of 21 are diagnosed with cancer every year; approximately 1/4 of them will not survive the disease. A diagnosis turns the lives of the entire family upside down. The objective of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is to put a spotlight on the types of cancer that largely affect children, survivorship issues, and – importantly – to help raise funds for research and family support.