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Childhood Cancer

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Childhood Cancer

Normally, human cells grow and divide, making new cells to replace old or damaged ones. Sometimes changes in a cell’s DNA can cause cancer. These DNA changes may sometimes be inherited from parents, or they may occur spontaneously.

Finding the cause of someone’s cancer is difficult. Most childhood cancers are caused by DNA changes that happen early in life, sometimes even before birth. The causes of most childhood cancers are not known. Very few environmental factors have been linked with these cancers. This is because childhood cancer is rare, and it is difficult to figure out what children have been exposed to (came in contact with) during their early development. Researchers continue to work toward finding the causes of childhood cancer. Visit the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Cancer Section to learn more about cancer.

 

For more up-to-date cancer data, visit:

Cancer Statistics