Document Type

Master's Culminating Experience

Publication Date

Fall 2012

Abstract

Objective: This research describes childhood cancer and identifies variances in childhood cancer statistics in the United States, Ohio, and Montgomery County.

Methods: This is a descriptive analysis of childhood cancer statistics using the Ohio Cancer Incidence Surveillance System (OCISS) (Ohio Department of Health, 2010) and CDC Wonder database (United States Department of Health and Human Services [USDHHS], Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], & National Cancer Institute [NCI], 2008 & 2011.) Cancer incidences between white children and black children were compared for the years 1999-2009. The OCISS database was also used to compare vital status by race, cancer stage and primary payer at diagnosis as factors related to childhood cancer in Montgomery County.

Results: Since the population in Montgomery County is 79% white and 20% black it seems like there is a higher incidence of black children with cancer, compared with the United States and Ohio;, in actuality the incidence rates follow the population trend. Montgomery County had high incidences of late stage diagnoses compared to early stage diagnoses, and more than 50%, more black children were deceased compared to white proportions. There were two times more deceased cases with late stage diagnosis than with an early stage diagnosis. Medicaid as a primary payer was low and not an important predictor.

Conclusions: More research is required to elucidate the higher childhood cancer mortality rate for black children and the high number of late stage diagnoses. More parental education is needed on early childhood cancer warning signs to decrease late stage detections.

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