Childhood and Adolescent Cancer

• Childhood and adolescent cancer will be discussed.

Incidence and Types of Childhood Cancer

• The overall incidence of childhood and adolescent cancer is 18.7 per 100,000.
• Childhood cancer peaks among children <5 years of age and adolescents 15 to 19 years of age.
• Childhood cancer is slightly more common in boys than in girls in the United States, and the male/female ratio for childhood cancers is 1.2:1.
• Cancer is more common in white children relative to other racial groups in the United States.
• Estimated Cases for Childhood and Adolescent Cancers in the United States in 2014: estimated 10,450 total cases in children ages 0-14 and 5,330 total cases in adolescents ages 15-19.

Mesodermal Germ Layer and Cancer

• Most childhood cancers originate from the mesodermal germ layer.
• Childhood cancers are often diagnosed during peak times of physical growth and maturation.

Factors Contributing to the Development of Childhood and Adolescent Cancers

• Genetic, genomic, and epigenetic factors may contribute to the development of childhood and adolescent cancers.
• Diet, immune function, and occupational exposure are other potential factors.
• Ionizing radiation and hormonal variations can also be contributing factors.
• Viral illnesses and individual characteristics, such as biologic, social, and physical environments, may play a role.

Prognosis

• Nearly 85% of children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer are cured.
• Childhood cancer survivors have a greater risk of developing a second cancer later in life compared to the general population.