The short answer
Cancer in children is rare and is treated differently from cancer in adults. The most common childhood cancers are leukemias, brain and other central nervous system tumors, and lymphomas. Most children are treated at children's cancer centers, and survival has improved greatly over the past 50 years.
Childhood cancer is rare — about 9,550 new cases a year in U.S. children ages 0 to 14.
The most common types are leukemias, brain and central nervous system (CNS) tumors, and lymphomas.
Children's cancers are often not treated the same way as adult cancers; pediatric oncology is its own specialty.
Cancer death rates in children have fallen about 70% since 1970 because of research and clinical trials.
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The full explanation.
The simple version
A cancer diagnosis is frightening at any age, and especially when the patient is a child. Childhood cancer is rare, it is treated by doctors who specialize in caring for children, and treatments have improved dramatically over the past 50 years. This page is a starting point, not a replacement for your child's care team.
How common it is
In the United States in 2025, an estimated 9,550 new cases of cancer were expected among children from birth to 14 years. Although cancer death rates for this age group fell by about 70 percent from 1970 through 2020, cancer remains the leading cause of death from disease among children.
Childhood cancer is rare, and survival has improved greatly over the last 50 years.
The most common types
The most common cancers in children ages 0 to 14 are:
- Leukemias — cancers of the blood-forming cells
- Brain and other central nervous system (CNS) tumors
- Lymphomas — cancers of the lymph system
Why children are treated differently
Children's cancers are not always treated like adult cancers. Pediatric oncology is a medical specialty focused on the care of children with cancer. Children may receive more intense treatment, their growing bodies respond differently, and they may react differently to medicines that control symptoms in adults.
Where to find help
Most children are treated at children's cancer centers, many of which belong to the NCI-supported Children's Oncology Group (COG). NCI's Cancer Information Service (1-800-4-CANCER) can help families find a COG-affiliated hospital and answer questions about clinical trials.
Words to know
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Common questions
▸How common is cancer in children?
It is rare. In the United States, an estimated 9,550 new cases are diagnosed each year among children from birth to age 14. Even so, cancer remains the leading cause of death from disease in this age group.
▸What are the most common childhood cancers?
The most common types in children ages 0 to 14 are leukemias, brain and other central nervous system (CNS) tumors, and lymphomas.
▸Is childhood cancer treated like adult cancer?
Not always. Children's cancers can behave differently and children's growing bodies respond differently to treatment, so pediatric oncology is a distinct medical specialty.
▸Are childhood cancers curable?
Many are. Cancer death rates for children fell about 70% from 1970 through 2020, and there are effective treatments for many childhood cancers.
▸What causes cancer in children?
The causes of most childhood cancers are not known. About 8 to 10% are linked to an inherited gene change passed from a parent.
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