Ireland’s incidence of childhood cancer has increased but survival rates have improved

A new report released by the National Cancer Registry, has shown an increase in incidence of childhood cancer between 1994 and 2014, but major reductions in mortality rates overall.

The report states that the rates of childhood cancer in Ireland are close to the European average, but mortality rates in this country are amongst the lowest observed and survival rates are close to the European average. Professor Kerri Clough-Gorr, Director of the National Cancer Registry, said that monitoring of cancer trends is vital,

"Although childhood cancers are thankfully rare, their impact on families is high, and the potential loss of years of life averages much higher than for adult cancers. Monitoring of trends in these cancers is therefore important. While incidence appears to be increasing, the consensus internationally is that this may, to a large extent, reflect improvements in diagnosis."

During a 21-year period from 1994 to 2014, 137 cases of cancer were diagnosed on average per year among children under the age of 15. Average annual numbers rose from 117 each year from 1994 to 2000 to 163 per year from 2008 to 2014. These statistics are thought to reflect increases in the childhood population, particularly under the age of five. Of the three biggest cancer groups in children, leukaemias and lymphomas show no significant trends in incidence, but tumours of the brain and central nervous system showed a significant increase in the years from 1999 to 2014. Mortality rates from childhood cancer have declined substantially since the mid to late 1960s, and five-year survival has averaged 81% in the most recent ten year period. Although the report's findings are positive, Professor Kerri Clough-Gorr says more research is needed,

"Treatment improvements have led to marked reductions in mortality from childhood cancer, but further work is needed to follow-up the growing numbers of survivors of childhood cancer, who may experience long-term health consequences related to their cancer treatment."

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