Cancer During Childhood

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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...
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References

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2014

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Indiana UniversityBloomingtonUSA
  2. 2.Indiana UniversityBloomingtonUSA

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