Every 3 minutes, a child is diagnosed with cancer. While cancer is often thought of as a disease that primarily affects adults, it is the leading cause of death by disease among children in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
What Is Childhood Cancer?
Childhood cancer refers to cancers that occur in children and adolescents, typically under the age of 15. Unlike adult cancers, which are often linked to lifestyle or environmental factors, the causes of most childhood cancers remain unknown and are generally not preventable.
The most common types of childhood cancer (yet still rare overall) include:
- Leukemias (especially acute lymphoblastic leukemia)
- Brain and central nervous system tumors
- Neuroblastoma
- Wilms tumor
- Lymphomas
- Rhabdomyosarcoma
- Retinoblastoma
Key Statistics
- About 15,000 children and adolescents (ages 0-19) are diagnosed with cancer each year in the U.S.
- More than 85%Â of children diagnosed with cancer now survive five years or more, a dramatic improvement from just a few decades ago.
- Worldwide, more than 400,000 children are diagnosed with cancer annually — but many go undiagnosed or untreated in low- and middle-income countries.
- Despite progress in survival rates, 60% of childhood cancer survivors experience long-term health issues from treatment, including heart disease, infertility, and secondary cancers.
Why Awareness Matters
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, symbolized by the gold/yellow ribbon. It’s a time to raise visibility for this critical health issue and advocate for more research funding.
While childhood cancers receive federal funding, only about 4% of the National Cancer Institute’s annual budget is dedicated to pediatric cancer research. Advocates say this is not enough to develop safer, more effective treatments tailored for children’s developing bodies.
How You Can Help
- Wear a gold/yellow ribbon in September.
- Donate to reputable childhood cancer research organizations.
- Donate blood or platelets. Â
- Support local families dealing with a cancer diagnosis.
- Advocate for increased funding and awareness.
