Statistics for cancers in children, adolescents, and young adults
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1. All Sites Combined: Demographics

This section provides an overview on the number of cases and age-adjusted incidence rates for all malignant cancers among children aged 0 to 19 by period of diagnosis and demographic factors in the National Childhood Cancer Registry (NCCR).

  • There are 218,246 children under age 20 diagnosed with malignant cancers from 1995 to 2017 (Table 1.1).
  • Higher risks of being diagnosed with childhood cancer are observed for:
    • Males versus females (186.3 per 1,000,000 males and 169.0 per 1,000,000 females).
    • Age less than 1 (258.6 per 1,000,000), ages 1 to 4 (221.1 per 1,000,000), and ages 15 to 19 (222.2 per 1,000,000).
    • Among Non-Hispanic Whites (188.9 per 1,000,000) and Hispanics (175.9 per 1,000,000).

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Table 1.1: Age-Adjusted Incidence Rates* and Number of Cases by Period of Diagnosis and Demographic Factors#

1995-2017 1995-2007 2008-2017
Rate Cases Column % Rate Cases Column % Rate Cases Column %
Total 177.9 218,246 100.0 168.9 115,065 100.0 189.1 103,181 100.0
Sex
Male 186.3 117,035 53.6 177.8 62,094 54.0 197.0 54,941 53.2
Female 169.0 101,211 46.4 159.5 52,971 46.0 180.9 48,240 46.8
Age at Diagnosis
<1 year 258.6 15,362 7.0 247.1 8,215 7.1 273.2 7,147 6.9
1-4 years 221.1 52,713 24.2 212.7 28,277 24.6 231.5 24,436 23.7
5-9 years 125.1 37,842 17.3 118.4 19,984 17.4 133.7 17,858 17.3
10-14 years 138.5 42,880 19.6 129.5 22,482 19.5 150.0 20,398 19.8
15-19 years 222.2 69,449 31.8 210.9 36,107 31.4 235.7 33,342 32.3
Race/Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 188.9 125,488 57.5 179.8 69,968 60.8 201.8 55,520 53.8
Non-Hispanic Black 135.5 24,091 11.0 128.5 12,709 11.0 144.6 11,382 11.0
Non-Hispanic American Indian/ Alaska Native 130.3 894 0.4 119.7 471 0.4 144.5 423 0.4
Non-Hispanic Asian/ Pacific Islander 151.8 10,723 4.9 138.3 4,945 4.3 165.7 5,778 5.6
Hispanic (All Races) 175.9 54,127 24.8 166.5 25,627 22.3 185.2 28,500 27.6
Unknown Race ~ 2,923 1.3 ~ 1,345 1.2 ~ 1,578 1.5
* Rates are per 1,000,000 and are age-adjusted to the 2000 US Std Population (19 age groups - Census P25-1130).
# Excludes Non-Malignant Central Nervous System and Germ Cell tumors
~ Population not available to calculate the rate

Figure 1.1: Age-Adjusted Incidence Rates* By Sex and Period of Diagnosis#

Rates for 1995-2007 and 2008-2017 by sex for Males, Females, and Both Sexes. Refer to Table 1.1 for values displayed in the graph.

* Rates are per 1,000,000 and are age-adjusted to the 2000 US Std Population (19 age groups - Census P25-1130).
# Excludes Non-Malignant Central Nervous System and Germ Cell tumors

Figure 1.2: Age-Adjusted Incidence Rates* By Race/Ethnicity and Period of Diagnosis#

Rates for 1995-2007 and 2008-2017 by race/ethnicity for Non-Hispanic White, Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian/Pacific Islaner, and for Hispanic (all races). Refer to Table 1.1 for values displayed in the graph.

* Rates are per 1,000,000 and are age-adjusted to the 2000 US Std Population (19 age groups - Census P25-1130).
# Excludes Non-Malignant Central Nervous System and Germ Cell tumors

Figure 1.3: Incidence Rates* By Age of Diagnosis and Period of Diagnosis#

Rates for 1995-2007 and 2008-2017 by Age Groups <1, 1-4, 5-9, 10-14, and 15-19 years. Refer to Table 1.1 for values displayed in the graph.

* Rates are per 1,000,000
# Excludes Non-Malignant Central Nervous System and Germ Cell tumors