Childhood Cancer
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1,500
Children (aged birth to 18 years) will be diagnosed with cancer each year in Canada.
170
Children (aged 0 to 18 years) will die from cancer each year in Canada.
2,300
Young adults (aged 20 to 29 years) will be diagnosed with cancer each year in Canada.
220
Young adults (aged 20 to 29 years) will die from cancer each year in Canada.
Childhood cancer is the most common disease-related cause of death and the second most common cause of death for children in the developed world, second only to accidental death.
Children, adolescents and young adults are being treated with drugs that are 20-30 years old, that are highly toxic and cause life-long complications.
The survival rates for many childhood, adolescent and young adult cancers have stalled. This is true for acute myeloid leukemia, many brain tumors, bone tumors, neuroblastoma, and sarcomas such as rhabdomyosarcoma with unacceptably low 5-year survival rates.
Children are NOT Little Adults
Cancers in children are typically a result of changes in the DNA; however, adult cancers are often due to environmental factors, lifestyle choices, and cellular aging. The most common types of cancer in children are extremely rare in adults so we must treat them differently.
Children have a different physiology than adults. How a child’s body deals with medication and how medications affect the child’s body is very different from what occurs in adults. As a child grows and develops, from infant to child to adolescent to teen, a medication can impact them differently at various stages of their development.
Cancer behaves differently in children, is often more aggressive, and frequently metastasizes to other parts of the body.
80%
of survivors will have a life-threatening health condition by the age of 45 as a result of harsh treatments like chemotherapy and radiation
Lifelong
Long-term effects can show up shortly after treatment or years later. There is also no plateau for these late-effects, with a possibility that issues will become worse over time
How Childhood Cancer Affects Children and Families
Children with cancer can experience decreased physical, emotional, and social health‐related quality of life compared to their peers.
During cancer treatment, siblings are overlooked family members, and up to 63% can have adjustment difficulties. Siblings of children with cancer experience more depression, anxiety, and worse peer relationships than siblings without a chronically ill brother or sister.
Families will typically experience a negative financial impact due to extra costs associated with hospital stays, treatment as well parents often needing to take time away from work to care for their child.
Clinical Trials in Canada
Approximately 26% of children and adolescents (ages 0-14 years) are enrolled in a clinical trial at the time of diagnosis.
Approximately 44% of children and adolescents (ages 0-14 years) follow a clinical trial protocol but are not registered on a clinical trial at the time of diagnosis.
Approximately 70% of children and adolescents (ages 0-14 years) are enrolled on a clinical trial or follow a clinical trial protocol at the time of diagnosis, compared to the less than 4.5% of adults who are enrolled.
To learn more about clinical trials, see About Clinical Trials.
Kindred Foundation is committed to making a difference for children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer.
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