Introduction
Cancer is a disease characterized by mutation, modified gene expression, cell proliferation, and aberrant cell growth. In the USA it ranks as the second leading cause of death with over one million new cases of cancer in adults diagnosed each year. In children (under 15) in the USA, an average of over 12,000 cases of cancer are diagnosed annually (American Cancer Society [ACS], 2012). While childhood cancer is rare compared to adult cancer incidence, its effects on the recipient as well as the family can be devastating and deadly. This entry defines cancer and reports on the major types of cancers found in children, followed by factors that have been associated with cause and increase cancer risk. In addition, potential strategies to prevent cancer are reviewed.
Definitions and Scope
Cancer is the development of abnormal cells that proliferate with limited growth control. Cancer cells have the ability to infiltrate and destroy normal body tissue and can spread...
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
American Cancer Society. (2012). What are the most common types of childhood cancers? Retrieved December 12, 2012, from http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancerinchildren/detailedguide/cancer-in-children-types-of-childhood-cancers
American Cancer Society. (2013). Cancer in children. Atlanta, GA: American Cancer Society. Retrieved March 27 12, 2013, from http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancerinchildren/detailedguide/cancer-in-children-key-statistics
Bithell, J. F., Dutton, S. J., Draper, G. J., & Neary, N. M. (1994). Distribution of childhood leukaemias and non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas near nuclear installations in England and Wales. British Medical Journal, 309, 501–505.
Draper, G. J., Little, M. P., Sorahan, T., Kinlen, L. J., Bunch, K. J., Conquest, A. J., et al. (1997). Cancer in the offspring of radiation workers: A record linkage study. British Medical Journal, 315, 1181–1188.
Draper, G., Vincent, T., Kroll, M. E., & Swanson, J. (2005). Childhood cancer in relation to distance from high voltage power lines in England and Wales: A case–control study. British Medical Journal, 330, 1290–1292.
Evrard, A. S., Hemon, D., Billon, S., Laurier, D., Jougla, E., Tirmarche, M., et al. (2006). Childhood leukemia incidence and exposure to indoor radon, terrestrial and cosmic gamma radiation. Health Physics, 90, 569–579.
Giusti, R. M., Iwamoto, K., & Hatch, E. E. (1995). Diethylstilbestrol revisited: A review of the long-term health effects. Annals of Internal Medicine, 122, 778–788.
Investigators United Kingdom Childhood Cancer Study [UKCCS]. (2002). The United Kingdom Childhood Cancer Study of exposure to domestic sources of ionising radiation: 1: Radon gas. British Journal of Cancer, 86, 1721–1726.
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). (2012). Cancer definition. Retrieved December 12, 2012, from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cancer/DS01076
McKinney, P. A., Fear, N. T., Stockton, D., & Investigators United Kingdom Childhood Cancer Study [UKCCS]. (2003). Parental occupation at periconception: Findings from the United Kingdom Childhood Cancer Study. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 60, 901–909.
Metayer, C., & Buffler, P. A. (2008). Residential exposures to pesticides and childhood leukaemia. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 132(2), 212–219.
Milne, E., Greenop, K. R., Bower, C., Miller, M., van Bockxmeer, F. M., Scott, R. J., et al. (2012). Maternal use of folic acid and other supplements and risk of childhood brain tumors. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, 21(11), 1933–1941.
National Cancer Institute. (2012a). Dictionary. Retrieved December 12, 2012, from http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary
National Cancer Institute. (2012b). National Cancer Institute fact sheet: Childhood cancers. National Cancer Institute at the National Institute of Health. Retrieved December 12, 2012, from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Sites-Types/childhood
Pang, D., McNally, R., & Birch, J. M. (2003). Parental smoking and childhood cancer: Results from the United Kingdom Childhood Cancer Study. British Journal of Cancer, 88, 373–381.
Pearce, M. S., Salotti, J. A., Little, M. P., McHugh, K., Lee, C., Kim, K. P., et al. (2012). Radiation exposure from CT scans in childhood and subsequent risk of leukaemia and brain tumours: A retrospective cohort study. Lancet, 380, 499–505.
Ries, L. A. G., Melbert, D., Krapcho, M., Mariotto, A., Miller, B. A., Feuer, E. J., et al. (Eds.). (2006). SEER cancer statistics review, 1975–2004. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute. Retrieved on December 12, 2012, from http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2004 based on November 2006 SEER data submission, posted to the SEER web site, 2007.
Shaw, G. M., Schaffer, D., Velie, E. M., Morland, K., & Harris, J. A. (1995). Periconceptional vitamin use, dietary folate, and the occurrence of neural tube defects. Epidemiology, 6(3), 219–226.
Spix, C., Schmiedel, S., Kaatsch, P., Schulze-Rath, R., & Blettner, M. (2008). Case–control study on childhood cancer in the vicinity of nuclear power plants in Germany 1980–2003. European Journal of Cancer, 44, 275–284.
Stewart, A., Webb, J., & Hewitt, D. (1958). A survey of childhood malignancies. British Medical Journal, 1, 1495–1508.
Task Force on Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment in New Jersey. (2002, July). New Jersey comprehensive cancer control plan. Report to the Governor, (sect. 1, p. 59), i–xx, 1–287. Trenton, NJ: New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. Retrieved on March 21, 2013, from http://www.state.nj.us/health/ccp/ccc_plan.htm
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau. (2011). Child health USA 2011. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this entry
Cite this entry
Fly, A.D., Klaunig, J.E. (2014). Cancer During Childhood. In: Gullotta, T.P., Bloom, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Primary Prevention and Health Promotion. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5999-6_113
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5999-6_113
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-5998-9
Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-5999-6
eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine