Study: Childhood cancer rates remain constant

May 27, 2009

The American Cancer Society (ACS) reports that there will be no change in the number of new cases of childhood cancer in 2009, according to its annual cancer statistics report. However, the number of deaths attributed to childhood cancer is estimated to decline by more than 7% in the U.S.

An estimated 10,730 children ages newborn to 14 are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in 2009. The report predicts 1,380 deaths, compared with an estimate of 1,490 in 2008. In 2007, 1,545 deaths were predicted.

Although childhood cancer is rare, representing only about 1% of all cancers diagnosed each year in the U.S., it is the second leading cause of death of children after accidental death. Due to improvements in treatment, cancer mortality rates for children have declined by 50% since 1975.

Percentage of pediatric cancers estimated by type for 2007-2009

Cancer type	2009	2008	2007
Leukemia	32.7%	32.6%	30.0%
Brain and nervous system	20.7%	21.1%	22.3%
Neuroblastoma	6.9%	6.7%	7.3%
Wilms' tumor	4.8%	4.9%	5.6%
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma	4.3%	4.2%	4.5%
Hodgkin's lymphoma	3.6%	3.7%	3.5%
Rhabdomyosarcoma	3.5%	3.5%	3.1%
Retinoblastoma	2.7%	2.8%	3.1%
Osteosarcoma	2.7%	2.7%	2.4%
Ewing's sarcoma	1.4%	1.4%	1.4%
Others	16.7%	16.4%	16.8%