As a charity, we rely on volunary contributions to provide this information. Only 1 in every 600 children under 15 years of age develops a cancer, and these are quite different from cancers affecting adults. They tend to occur in different parts of the body, they look different under the microscope and they respond differently to treatment.
Nobody knows the cause of cancer, although there are many theories.
A great deal of research is currently underway studying a number of possible causes. Sometimes 2 or 3 children develop cancer in the same school or village, causing local concern. These cases are carefully investigated but at present they do seem to arise by chance. In general cancer occurs when cells in the body become out of control and multiply. They stop working properly and as their numbers increase they form a lump or tumour .