Research is helping to beat childhood cancer
NEW Cancer Council research has revealed childhood cancer death rates in Australia have decreased by nearly 40% in 15 years.
The survival estimates provide some good news for families with children affected by cancer.
Around 710 children aged 0-14 are diagnosed with cancer each year in Australia, and about 100 die from the disease.
We know that a childhood cancer diagnosis can be a distressing time for the child, their family and caregivers, and not just throughout the course of treatment.
Our research might help to ease some of this distress and provide hope of a brighter future.
The national figures, examining 30-year trends, found that the sharp drop in mortality was largely driven by a decrease in childhood leukemia deaths.
Promisingly, childhood cancer death rates decreased by about 3% a year between 1998 and 2013.
Significant improvements were also seen in survival for leukemias, lymphomas, neuroblastoma and malignant bone tumours in children.
However, there was little or no survival change for several other types of childhood cancer over recent years, particularly liver cancer.
Cancer remains the most common cause of disease-related death for children aged 1-14 in Australia – highlighting the urgent need for greater research and support services for families affected.
If you need support or cancer-related information, please contact Cancer Council Queensland on 13 11 20.
Katie Clift
Queensland spokeswoman
