Childhood cancer

Childhood cancer

Around 1,500 children are diagnosed with cancer every year in the UK.

The term ‘childhood’ cancer refers to the 0 to 14 year age group. In addition, around 1,900 15 to 24 year olds (referred to as teenagers and young adults) are diagnosed with cancer every year in the UK.

The types of cancer affecting children are quite different from the cancers that affect teenagers and young adults (TYA); TYA cancers are different again from the types of cancer that typically affect adults aged 25+.

Read more: Types of childhood cancer

About childhood cancer

Compared to cancers in older people, childhood cancers tend to occur in different parts of the body, they look different under the microscope and they respond differently to treatment.

Leukaemia is the most common childhood cancer, followed by brain and spinal (CNS) tumours.

Together, leukaemia and CNS tumours account for more than half of all cases of childhood cancer, as shown in the chart below:

Read more: Incidence of childhood cancer| Causes of childhood cancer

Survival

The good news is that three quarters of children diagnosed with cancer can now be cured.

The past few decades have seen dramatic improvements in the outcome for children diagnosed with cancer. Fifty years ago, only around a quarter of children diagnosed with cancer in Britain survived five years from diagnosis. Today, more than three quarters of children survive five years.

Children who survive five years from diagnosis are generally considered to be cured. A small number of children may have a late relapse, or other complication, and die beyond five years.

Within the overall survival rate, there are some cancers that have a better outlook.

Retinoblastoma, gonadal germ cell tumours and Hodgkin’s disease all have five-year survival rates above 90%.

But there are a number of cancers that have lower rates of survival, including acute myeloid leukaemia (65%), bone tumours (64%) and neuroblastoma (59%).

Survival rates vary according to the exact diagnosis as well as factors such as age and gender. For more information on survival rates, visit our Types of childhood cancer section

Survival rates continue to increase with the development of new, more effective treatments and improvements in the organisation of care for patients.

Read more: Treating childhood cancer | Caring for children with cancer

Hear from families affected by childhood cancer Bethan and her family. Bethan was diagnosed with leukaemia when she was four years old.

Bethan and her family. Bethan was diagnosed with leukaemia when she was four years old.

Coping with a diagnosis of childhood cancer is extremely difficult.

A number of families have kindly offered to share their experiences to help others understand what it’s like to deal with childhood cancer.

Read more: Patient stories

Related Topics childhood leukaemia, incidence, childhood cancer, types of cancer, patient stories, causes of cancer

Childhood cancer

Help us by sharing this post

Sign up to our newsletter

Keep in touch

Short cuts