Overview
- Five-year survival for all pediatric cancers reached 87% in 2015–2021, even as about 15,000 U.S. children are projected to be diagnosed and nearly 1,700 to die in 2025.
- Pediatric cancer mortality fell 57% from 1970 to 2000 and declined another 19% from 2001 to 2023.
- From 2015 to 2025, the FDA approved more than 20 targeted therapies and over 10 immunotherapies for children, with CAR T-cell therapy delivering notable remissions in some leukemias.
- Serious gaps remain, with certain gliomas and sarcomas showing five-year survival rates below 25%.
- Survivors face heavy long-term health burdens, and disparities persist as Hispanic children have the highest incidence, Black children face higher mortality for some cancers, and rural or low-income patients have poorer access to specialized care and trials.