Statistics on pediatric cancer survival rates

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Statistics on pediatric cancer survival rates

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In the last half decade, which I've been fortunate enough to be part of, the survival rate for child cancers has increased dramatically. From the range of 10-20% 50 years ago, at best, to now 80%. The cancers that have so dramatically improved have been things like Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, the most common cancer in childhood, some of the sarcomas and the lymphomas. We still have a lot more to go in terms of brain tumors. Brain tumors are our toughest challenge right now. The more low grade, or not as malignant tumors are easier to deal with. But, the high grade tumors are quite difficult to deal with. And, we are just making progress with those now. And then another kind of leukemia called Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. More common in adults. But, it does occur in children. Also has been a harder one to treat. And, although we've definitely made progress there, we're still down the range of 60% survival. Compared to the 80+% survival we've seen in some of the other cancers.

See Stuart E. Siegel, MD's video on Statistics on pediatric cancer survival rates...

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Stuart E. Siegel, MD

Director, Children’s Center for Cancer & Blood Diseases, Children's Hospital Los Angeles

Before recently shifting his focus to international medicine, Stuart Siegel, MD, was Chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology for 35 years and the founding director of the the Children’s Center for Cancer & Blood Diseases at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and Professor and Head of the Division of Hematology-Oncology Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California. He remains a leader in supportive care and research in pediatric oncology, with a special focus on neuroblastoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Ewing Sarcoma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia and brain tumors. From developing the first pediatric protective environment in 1971 for children undergoing intensive chemotherapy, to pioneering current efforts to develop academic and clinical care programs nationally and locally for adolescents and young adults with cancer, Dr. Siegel’s contributions have revolutionized the field of pediatric oncology. Dr. Siegel has been honored for his work by the American Cancer Society, Children Foundation, the Cancer Foundation, the Chase Foundation, Padres Contra El Cancer, the Israel Cancer Research Fund and Ronald McDonald House Charities, where he is a member of the National Board, and has consistently been listed among the nation’s top doctors in such publications asAmerica’s Top Doctors and Best Doctors in America. He is a father of one son, Joshua; grandfather of David and Elijah; and lives in Pacific Palisades with his wife of seven years.

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Transcription: 
In the last half decade, which I've been fortunate enough to be part of, the survival rate for child cancers has increased dramatically. From the range of 10-20% 50 years ago, at best, to now 80%. The cancers that have so dramatically improved have been things like Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, the most common cancer in childhood, some of the sarcomas and the lymphomas. We still have a lot more to go in terms of brain tumors. Brain tumors are our toughest challenge right now. The more low grade, or not as malignant tumors are easier to deal with. But, the high grade tumors are quite difficult to deal with. And, we are just making progress with those now. And then another kind of leukemia called Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. More common in adults. But, it does occur in children. Also has been a harder one to treat. And, although we've definitely made progress there, we're still down the range of 60% survival. Compared to the 80+% survival we've seen in some of the other cancers.