About Kids' Cancer

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Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children. It receives a fraction of the research funding adult cancers do.

the reality

The facts about childhood cancer are alarming. But they drive what we do. Faced with these realities, we believe we can make a difference.

And yet every advancement in curing childhood cancer has come through research, and that research is working.

Survival rates for childhood cancer have risen sharply over the past 20 years. In the United States, more than 75 percent of children with cancer are now alive five years after diagnosis, compared with about 60 percent in the mid-1970s. Much of this dramatic improvement is due to the development of improved therapies at children’s cancer centers, where the majority of children with cancer have their treatment.

Why it matters

Pediatric cancer research has also opened the doors for progress in adult cancer research. It has:

Increased the overall understanding of the basic biology of cancer.
Provided principles of therapy and advances for other diseases of children and adults.
Chemotherapy was first shown to be effective in curing children with cancer.
The discovery of the first tumor suppressor gene occurred in children with cancer.
The principle of multi-modal therapy was pioneered in childhood cancer research studies.

#1

Childhood cancer is the leading cause of disease-related death in children under the age of 15 in the U.S.

By the numbers

Facts

Every year, about 12,400 children and teens under the age of 20 are diagnosed with cancer — that is one in every 330 children.
The average age of diagnosis is 5.
Although cure rates are steadily increasing, 35% of children will die from a diagnosis of cancer.
One fourth of all pediatric cancer diagnoses are brain tumors.
Diagnoses of brain cancers and other central nervous system tumors rose by more than 25% between 1973 and 1996. In general, children diagnosed with central nervous system tumors do NOT share the favorable prognosis of those with many other more common pediatric abnormal masses.
Over the past 20 years, there has been some increase in the incidence of children diagnosed with all forms of invasive cancer; from 11.4 cases per 100,000 children in 1975 to 15.2 per 100,000 children in 1998.
Diagnoses of leukemia, which is the most common childhood cancer, increased by more than 15% over the past 20 years.
Cancer remains the number one disease killer of children; more than genetic anomalies, cystic fibrosis, and AIDS combined.

Resources for Pediatric Cancer Families

A diagnosis changes everything. We’ve gathered trusted organizations, support networks, and financial-assistance resources to help families navigate treatment and beyond.

Family Ambassador Program

Connect with families who understand the pediatric cancer journey.

Financial Assistance Program

Get help when you need it most with our limited financial assistance program.

Resources for Families

Browse and get access to hundreds of resources through our partnership with Hope Portal