Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer

In Kenya, there are only a few primary hospitals with specialized pediatric oncology units. Of the estimated 3,200 Kenyan children diagnosed with cancer each year, only 20-30% survive. 

In the United States, 85% of children diagnosed with cancer are alive five years later. 

Kenya and the United States are just two examples of the great divide that exists for kids with cancer. Low- and middle-income countries have systemic and chronic infrastructure issues, long travel distances to clinics, lack of access to medications and specialized treatments, high out-of-pocket medical costs, and delays in diagnosis, which all contribute to the high mortality rates among childhood cancer types that have low mortality rates in the United States.³⁶

Childhood cancer represents a substantial and inequitable global health burden and remains one of the leading causes of death in children worldwide. No one knows the true burden of childhood cancer because there is not a comprehensive global childhood cancer registry. However, estimates suggest around 275,000-400,000 new cases of cancer develop annually in children and that there are more than 100,000 deaths each year.³⁷

And while this report primarily focuses on childhood cancer in the United States, the movement to cure childhood cancer is for all children, no matter where they live. Here are some key global childhood cancer facts:

• Only 29% of low-income countries report that common, widely-used and researched medications are available to their populations compared to 96% of high-income countries.³⁸
• In some low-middle income countries the 5-year survival rates are 10%.³⁹
• Population-based incidence rates seem to be steadily increasing globally, as they have been in the United States (see Section 1). This is partly due to improved diagnosis.⁴⁰
• The lowest 3-year survival rates are in Africa, followed by South America, parts of Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.⁴¹
• The Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, launched in 2018 by the World Health Organization and other global partners, aims to increase survival rates to at least 60% by 2030.⁴²

Addressing these disparities is critical, as every child, regardless of where they are born, deserves access to timely diagnosis, effective treatment, and the hope of survival. Global efforts, like the WHO’s initiative, highlight that progress is possible when resources, policies, and partnerships align to fight childhood cancer worldwide.