About 850 children up to 14 years of age develop cancer each year in Canada, and approximately one sixth of that number die each year, according to the Canadian Cancer Society. The society says the significantly lower number of deaths is due to better treatment for most cancers.

The report adds that while the incidence of childhood cancer (aged 0-14) has been constant since 1985, the mortality rate has continued to fall. Childhood cancer is rare, accounting for a little over half of one per cent of all cancers, the Society informs - but even so, it is still of significant public health importance.

According to the Canadian Cancer Society, improved childhood cancer survival is mainly due to -

-- better diagnostic procedures
-- the development of multi-modal therapies
-- the centralization of care and support services

Almost four-firths of all children with cancer in Canada are either enrolled in a clinical trial or treated according to a registered protocol established by a clinical trial.

The current survival rate for childhood cancer is 82% - children surviving for at least five years after diagnosis - an 11% improvement compared to 15 years ago. The report stresses that this raises the need for long-term follow-up of late effects. A substantial percentage of childhood cancer survivors experience after-effects that continue for most of their lives - this is either because of the cancer itself or the cancer treatment. Most common effects are cardiopulmonary, endocrine, renal or pulmonary dysfunction, neurocognitive impairments and the development of second cancers.

Childhood cancers have a significant impact on health, as well as the economic and social welfare systems. As well as suffering emotional trauma and life-long consequences, families have to manage as best they can and provide for other children in the home, while at the same time trying to cope with the maze of social welfare systems. It is not uncommon for parents of children with cancer to work less, or completely stop work - this can create financial difficulties for the family. Cancer patients and their caregivers generally require emotional, physical and financial support for long after treatment has ended.

How do childhood and adult cancers differ?

Most adult cancers are carcinomas - they start in the glands or tissue around organs, such as prostate, colon, breast or lung. Childhood carcinomas are extremely rare. Childhood tumors tend to grow rapidly and are aggressive, invasive and often spread. Hematopoietic malignancies are more common among children with cancer than adults (leukemia).

-- Click here to see The Report (Childhood Cancers starts on page 61)