Study: Kids' Cancer Rate Varies By Region

Childhood Cancer Most Common In Northeast; Teens Have Higher Rate Than Children

(AP)  Surprising research suggests that childhood cancer is most common in the Northeast, results that even caught experts off guard. But some specialists say it could just reflect differences in reporting.

The large government study is the first to find notable regional differences in pediatric cancer. Experts say it also provides important information to bolster smaller studies, confirming that cancer is rare in children, but also more common in older kids, especially among white boys.

The study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is based on data representing 90 percent of the U.S. population. It found that cancer affects about 166 out of every million children, a number that shows just how rare childhood cancers are.

The highest rate was in the Northeast with 179 cases per million children, while the lowest was among children in the South with 159 cases per million. Some experts suggested that could mean cases were under-reported in the South and over-reported elsewhere.

The rates for the Midwest and West were nearly identical, at 166 cases per million and 165 per million, respectively.

The cancer incidence in boys was 174 cases per million, compared with 157 cases per million in girls. In white children, the rate was 173 per million, versus 164 per million in Hispanics and 118 per million in blacks. Teenagers had higher rates than younger kids.

A total of 36,446 cases were identified in the study, which analyzed 2001-03 data from state and federal registries. The research appears in the June edition of Pediatrics, released Monday.

"It's very powerful that this study includes so much of the U.S. population so it gives us a good picture of where we are with the incidence of these childhood cancers," said Elizabeth Ward, the American Cancer Society's surveillance director.

Experts said the regional differences, though small, are intriguing, but that reasons for them are uncertain.

Dr. Rafael Ducos, a children's cancer physician at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, said the South's low rates were perplexing and might simply reflect under-reporting there and over-reporting in other regions.

"I'm at a loss to explain it," he said.

Environmental factors might play a role, including exposure to radiation, said lead author Dr. Jun Li of the CDC. Radiation has been linked with the most common types of childhood cancer - leukemia, lymphoma and brain cancers.

Radiation sources include X-rays, nuclear plant emissions and natural sources such as radon gas. But Li said research is needed to determine if these sources vary enough by region to affect childhood cancer rates.

Dr. Lindsay Frazier, a cancer specialist at Children's Hospital Boston and Dana Farber Cancer Institute, said pollution and housing stock that's older than anywhere else in the nation might help explain the Northeast's higher rates.

But also, there could be better access to cancer centers in the Northeast, which would result in more diagnoses, she said. That could also explain why other research has shown that children's death rates from cancer are also lowest in the Northeast.

While noteworthy, the differences in rates among regions shouldn't cause alarm among parents, said Dr. Adam Levy, a cancer specialist at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center in New York.

"As a parent raising a family in the Northeast, this does not at all increase my concern for my family or for my neighbors," Levy said, adding, "First and foremost, these are still very rare diseases in children."

Regional differences in rates for some specific cancers have been found in adults, but these are likely due to personal habits and lifestyle factors, Ward said. For example, lung cancer rates are high in the South because smoking is generally more popular there, she said.

But it generally takes years of exposure to lifestyle factors such as smoking before cancer develops, she said, so this wouldn't explain children's rates.

[meechew-2009]

So gopsoccermom you are saying that my son has cancer because I am not praying enough?!?!?!?!?! Your stupidity and dim-witted comments are extremely illogical!! You should watch what you say because your comments are extremely offensive!!!!!!! Until you have experienced a horrible disease like cancer striking an innocent child, I would watch your comments and get a life!

Blame the Messenger for the South being under reported. The reason that cancer is lower in the South is becuse of Sunshine; to be more particular Vitamin D. Blame the report but don''t blame the real reason and never endorse the use of Vitamin D as a preventive. The Canadian Cancer Society recommends Vitamin D as a preventive but the American Cancer Society has not. Our medicial industry is in the control the symptoms business and not the preventive business. All hail the mighty dollar.

[gopsoccermom]

mtngurl8, you have no scientific proof its underreported. Prayer works, turn to Jesus.

[irliberal]

Yea, ignore gopsoccer. It''s a right wing republican, and he frequently posts extremely absurd left and right wing sounding statements just to see how people will react. It''s sort of the equivalent of poking an anthill with a stick. If you ignore him, he eventually goes away. I say he because it''s about 90% certain that he''s sitting at his pc right now with a bag of pork rinds thinking about how clever he is.

Kinda gross, if you ask me.

[mtngurl8]

gopsoccermom''s post must be a joke. Noone could really be that idiotic. Cancer strikes all people believers as well as non-believers with equal vengence. Cancer in the south is probably under reported. A large number of working families in the south do not have any form of health insurance. Up north families are more likely to belong to a Union and thus have greater access to care.

[yankeerebel7]

It''s funny how because the study indicated the South as having lower levels of cancer in children, they think oh it must be underreported there or something''s wrong with how they''re getting the data. It couldn''t possibly be anything else. That''s messed up.

[gopsoccermom]

Its makes sense. Cancer strikes those who dont pray enough and people are more religios in the south.