Pediatric Oncology

Cancer in children represents <1% of all cancers in the developing world, with a higher incidence in developing nations, but has emerged as one of the leading causes of death for children and adolescents around the world. There are striking disparities in the incidence, mortality, cure rates, patterns of childhood cancers, and the allocation of financial and other resources for cancer care across high-income countries (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Also evident is a glaring gap in the data available regarding these indices across these countries, which are essential for planning and implementation of services to foster cancer care. This chapter provides a bird’s eye view of the epidemiology of childhood cancers, both at global and national levels, with a cursory look at the challenges in the management of childhood cancers in LMICs with major information derived from the recent Lancet Oncology Commission for sustainable care for children with cancer.