Cancer

Prevalence

The American Cancer Society predicted in 2004 that 9,200 children and adolescents in the United States younger than 15 years of age would be diagnosed with cancer that year. Because of advances in cancer treatments, approximately 77% of these children and adolescents would survive; nevertheless it is estimated that 1,510 children and adolescents would die in 2004. Cancer is the leading cause of death from disease in people younger than 15 years of age, and, in most age groups, it is the second most frequent cause of death.

Common Types of Childhood Cancer Leukemia

Leukemia is a cancer involving the blood-forming cells. It typically affects the white blood cells, but it can also affect other types of blood cells (i.e., red blood cells or platelets). Leukemia initially develops in the bone marrow (i.e., the inner part of the bones where blood cells are produced) and then spreads to the blood. Once in the blood, the leukemia can spread to the lymph nodes, the central nervous system (i.e., the brain and spinal cord), or other organs. Symptoms of leukemia include fatigue, pale skin, infection, easy bleeding or bruising, bone pain, swelling of the abdomen, swollen lymph nodes, swollen thymus gland, headaches, seizures, vomiting, rashes, gum disease, and extreme weakness (American Cancer Society, 2004).

Leukemia is identified as being either acute (growing quickly) or chronic (growing slowly). Children with leukemia are typically diagnosed with an acute form of the disease. Acute leukemia is divided into two types, (1) acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), also known as acute lymphoblastic leukemia; (2) and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), also known as acute myeloid leukemia, acute myelocytic leukemia, and acute nonlymphocytic leukemia. ALL is a cancer of the lymphoblasts (cells that help form an individual's immune system). AML is a cancer type that affects immature bone marrow cells (American Cancer Society, 2004).

[Page 78]Overall, leukemia is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in children and adolescents. In 2004, it was estimated that 3,700 children and adolescents under the age of 19 years would develop leukemia. ALL accounts for approximately 75% of the leukemia diagnoses (approximately 2,800 cases). For most cases of leukemia, the exact cause of the disease is unknown; however, research has indicated that mutations in an individual's DNA can lead to the development of leukemia (American Cancer Society, 2004).

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