This information is produced and provided by the National Cancer
Institute (NCI). The information in this topic may have changed
since it was written. For the most current information, contact
the National Cancer Institute via the Internet web site at
http://cancer.gov or call 1-800-4-CANCER. Fortunately, cancer in
children and adolescents is rare, although the overall incidence
of childhood cancer has been slowly increasing since 1975.
Children and adolescents with cancer should be referred to
medical centers that have a multidisciplinary team of cancer
specialists with experience treating the cancers that occur
during childhood and adolescence. This multidisciplinary team
approach incorporates the skills of the primary care physician,
pediatric surgical subspecialists, radiation oncologists,
pediatric medical oncologists/hematologists, rehabilitation
specialists, pediatric nurse specialists, social workers, and
others to ensure that children receive treatment, supportive
care, and rehabilitation that will a