10 Facts About Pediatric Cancer Every Parent Should Know
Hearing “your child has cancer” is one of the most devastating sentences a parent can face. It brings fear, confusion and a flood of questions. While no one can prepare fully for that moment, knowledge can offer clarity and strength. Here are 10 important facts every parent should know about pediatric cancer.
1. Cancer is the leading cause of disease-related death in children.
Cancer takes more young lives in the United States than any other disease. It is more deadly than asthma, diabetes or AIDS in children and adolescents ages 0 to 19.
2. Pediatric cancers are fundamentally different from adult cancers.
Children are not just small adults. Their cancers grow differently, and their developing bodies respond to treatments in unique ways. Most adult therapies aren’t designed with kids in mind, which makes research for pediatric-specific treatments crucial.
3. Pediatric cancer includes more than 100 subtypes.
Childhood cancer is not a single disease. There are over a dozen major types and more than 100 subtypes. Each behaves differently, making diagnosis, treatment and research incredibly complex.
4. Only a small percent of federal cancer research funding is for kids.
Despite its severity, childhood cancer receives a very small portion of the federal cancer research budget. This leaves families and advocates to fill the gap, pushing for better, safer therapies through grassroots efforts and nonprofit funding.
5. Only seven drugs have been developed specifically for childhood cancer.
Most drugs used to treat kids were developed for adults and adapted for smaller bodies. In decades of research, only seven drugs have been approved as first-use therapies for pediatric cancer.
6. Leukemia and Central Nervous System Tumors are the most common types.
For children ages 0–14, leukemia is the most common cancer diagnosis, with central nervous system tumors close behind. As kids grow into their teenage years, ages 15–19, central nervous system tumors become the most common form of cancer.
7. The most common causes of death in survivors are relapse or second cancers.
Some children lose their lives not to the original cancer but to its return or to a second cancer caused by the very treatment that saved them. Long-term monitoring is critical for catching these risks early.
8. Survivorship comes with lifelong challenges.
Even after beating cancer, many survivors face a lifetime of complications. These may include heart problems, cognitive delays, fertility issues or emotional trauma. Survival is only part of the journey.
9. Most pediatric cancers aren’t preventable.
Unlike many adult cancers, pediatric cancers are rarely linked to lifestyle or environmental factors. This means there is little a parent can do to prevent it, making early detection and research all the more important.
10. You are not alone.
Roughly one in 285 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer before age 20. Behind every statistic is a family, a fight and a community of people who understand what you’re going through.
Pediatric cancer is real and it’s relentless. Raising awareness is the first step in pushing for change. When you know the facts, you become part of the movement working toward a future with safer treatments and new options. For more information or support, check out our website or reach out to us at getinvolved@beagoodcookie.org.
This post references data and insights from cac2.org.