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Childhood Cancer Facts

The statistics are staggering. And despite this, our federal government consistently underfunds childhood cancer research. This is why your support is so essential.

By sharing the statistics and facts about childhood cancer, researchers move closer to innovative and specialized cures.

Incidences of Childhood Cancer

  • Childhood cancer occurs regularly, randomly and spares no ethnic group, socioeconomic class, or geographic region.
  • In the United States, the incidence of cancer among adolescents and young adults is increasing at a greater rate than any other age group, except those over 65 years.
  • The causes of most childhood cancers are unknown. At present, childhood cancer cannot be prevented.
  • The incidence of invasive pediatric cancers is up 29% in the past 20 years.The incidence of invasive pediatric cancers is up 29% in the past 20 years.
  • In the last 40 years, the overall survival rate for children’s cancer has increased from 10% to nearly 90% today. But, for many rare childhood cancers, the survival rate is much less.
  • In the United States, 1 in 300 kids are diagnosed with cancer before age 20 – over 15,000/year
  • Here in the US, roughly 80% of kids survive 5 years. 20% of those survivors die prematurely due to original cancer, a secondary cancer or effects of treatments.
  • There are approximately 375,000 adult survivors with previous childhood cancer diagnoses in the United States.
  • The causes of childhood cancers are largely unknown, and for the most part they cannot be prevented. A few conditions, such as Down syndrome, other specific chromosomal and genetic abnormalities, and ionizing radiation exposures, explain a small percentage of cases. Children with AIDS have an increased risk of developing certain cancers, predominantly non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Kaposi sarcoma.

Mortality

  • 1 in 5 children diagnosed with cancer will die within 5-years.
  • 12% of children who are diagnosed with cancer do not survive.
  • Worldwide nearly 100,000 children die annually from childhood cancers.
  • Many pediatric cancers are terminal upon progression or recurrence.
  • Childhood cancers are the #1 disease killer for kids in the United States. Childhood cancer takes more kids every year than cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, asthma and AIDS combined.

Long-Term Effects

  • 98% of survivors suffer from a chronic health condition by the age of 45, including pulmonary, hearing, cardiac and other problems related either to the cancer or treatments.
  • Cancer treatments can affect a child’s growth, fertility, and endocrine system. Child survivors may be permanently immunologically suppressed.
  • Radiation to a child’s brain can significantly damage cognitive function, or if radiation is given at a very young age, limiting the ability to read, do basic math, tell time or even talk.
  • Childhood cancer survivors are at significant risk for secondary cancers later in life.

Lack of Funding

  • Despite these facts, childhood cancer research is vastly and consistently underfunded.
  • Kids don’t vote so we have to be their voice. 96% of Federal funding for research is for adult cancers, leaving on 4% for childhood cancers.
  • Funding from large cancer organization does not help childhood cancer research the way it should. Less than 1% of American Cancer Society’s total donations were directed toward childhood cancer research.
  • Currently 900 adult cancer drugs are in the pipeline for development. Unfortunately, very little research and development is taking place for childhood cancer drugs and treatments. 1/2 of all chemotherapies used for children’s cancers are over 25 years old.

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