There is no one single cause for cancer.
Scientists believe that it is the interaction of many factors together that produces cancer.
The factors involved may be genetic, environmental, or constitutional characteristics of the individual. Diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis for childhood cancers are different than for adult cancers. The main differences are the survival rate and the cause of the cancer. The survival rate for childhood cancer is about 72 percent, while in adult cancers the survival rate is 60 percent. This difference is thought to be because childhood cancer is more responsive to therapy, a child can tolerate more aggressive therapy, and the prognosis is better.