County rates were included to assist health officials and other health providers to estimate pediatric cancer service needs in their counties. The risk factors for each cancer vary. Discussions of risk factors in this report largely follow what has been presented in National Cancer Institute and American Cancer Society publications and in review articles by recognized authorities on childhood cancer. When an individual study has been particularly important in understanding a risk factor, we cited that study. For several cancers, little has been published regarding risk factors.
More research is needed on the causes and ways to prevent childhood cancers.