There are approximately 10.5 million cancer survivors in the United States, and at least 270,000 of these survivors were diagnosed when they were under the age of 21 (source: National Cancer Institute). Over the last twenty years, improved treatment strategies and better supportive care have resulted in increased survival rates for many childhood cancers. Today, 79% of children and adolescents with cancer will survive five years or more after treatment.

The most common childhood cancers are:

• Leukemia, which accounts for 31% of all pediatric cancers. More than 80% of childhood leukemia survivors had acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).
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• Brain tumors, the second most common childhood cancer, make up 17% of all childhood cancers.
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• Lymphoma, both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin, makes up about 15% of all childhood cancers.

Although most children are successfully treated for cancer, the treatment can cause side effects known as late effects that occur months, or even years, after treatment is completed. Late effects can occur almost anywhere in the body. Many survivors of childhood cancer will experience some of these late effects, and over three quarters of childhood cancer survivors will experience emotional and cognitive (memory, thinking, and attention) problems such as anxiety, depression, and learning disorders. This is why it is important for all children treated for cancer to get lifelong follow-up care.

The Children's Oncology Group (COG) has studied the physical and psychological effects that childhood cancer survivors face. Based on these studies, COG has established guidelines for the long-term follow-up of childhood cancer survivors at www.survivorshipguidelines.org.

IOM Report

On August 26, 2003, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report entitled Childhood Cancer Survivorship: Improving Care and Quality of Life. This report describes the impressive advances in treatment for childhood cancers over the past three decades. In addition, it reviews the variety of late effects that survivors of childhood cancer may have, emphasizing the importance of continued follow-up care throughout their lives.

Read the executive summary of this IOM report online.

Review more details or order a copy of this IOM report.

More Information

Cancer.Net Feature: Late Effects of Childhood Cancer

Cancer in Children

Cancer.Net Guide to Childhood Cancer

Cancer.Net Feature: Alliance Advocates for Children with Cancer