Pediatric cancer survival rates reach nearly 90 percent in United States

Researchers analyzed registry data from the National Cancer Institute to find that nearly 90 percent of children and teenagers in the United States survived five years after a cancer diagnosis by 2017.

This figure represents a notable increase from the 60 percent survival rate recorded in 1975. The study looked at more than 100,000 patients between 1975 and 2022. Lindsay Schwartz and her colleagues identified that while overall survival has improved, these gains are not equal across all groups.

Non-Hispanic Black children and teenagers faced lower survival rates than other groups. Additionally, certain types of cancer like acute myeloid leukemia and sarcomas, which are cancers of the bone and soft tissue, showed much smaller improvements in survival compared to acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The researchers attributed these medical advances to the use of immunotherapies, molecularly targeted agents, and better precision diagnostics. However, they noted that long-term health remains a concern for some survivors.

For example, patients treated for Hodgkin lymphoma in the 1970s and early 1980s saw their survival rate drop from 87 percent at five years to 63 percent after 30 years due to the long-term effects of their treatments. The team suggests that future efforts must focus on making new therapies accessible to all families regardless of race or location. They also emphasized the need for lifelong follow-up care to monitor for heart problems and second cancers.