The Canadian Childhood Cancer Surveillance and Control Program, launched in July 1992, is part of the federal government's Child Development Initiative aimed at reducing risks to the health and normal development of children. Children are considered at risk if conditions threaten their ability to develop into healthy, happy adults, capable of making their unique contributions to society.
Some threatening conditions are ill health, poverty, neglect and abuse.
The federal government will review and evaluate its activities under the Child Development Initiative so that the effectiveness of its programs and changes in the needs and status of children will be documented. The Canadian Childhood Cancer Surveillance and Control Program is envisaged as a partnership among health care providers, researchers, consumers, governments, voluntary agencies and others concerned with childhood cancer. Its goal is to contribute towards reducing the suffering and burden caused by childhood cancer by identifying causal factors and assessing treatment and long-term effects. To accomplish this, a nationwide information system on childhood cancer has been established in collaboration with treatment centres and cancer registries. The system gathers data on cancer occurrence, risk factors, treatment, outcome and long-term effects.