New campaign as young Scots cancer rates fall
New figures released today (Wednesday) reveal that cancer death rates in children and young people in Scotland has fallen by 57 per cent in the past 40 years.
Progress in treating the disease led to the unprecedented drop among youngsters aged 24 and under, with around 130 deaths each year in the mid-1970s falling to around 45.
The steepest decline was in leukaemia, where the average number of deaths dropped by 43 per cent in the past 10 years, falling from 18 deaths each year to 10.
The new figures were announced as the charity launched Cancer Research UK Kids and Teens - a new fundraising campaign with an ongoing mission to accelerate research into kinder treatments and cures for children, teens and young adults with cancer.
And the charity is calling on Scots to donate to help beat childhood cancers sooner, because despite improvements, the disease remains the biggest killer of youngsters in the UK.
Lisa Adams, Cancer Research UK spokeswoman for Scotland, said: “It’s hugely encouraging to see the death toll for children’s cancers falling steadily, but we must make faster progress to save more lives.”
Thanks to the generosity of its supporters Cancer Research UK helped to transform the outlook for children with cancer.
Ms Adams said: “Three-quarters of under-15s with the disease in Great Britain are now cured compared with only a quarter in the late 1960s. However, survival is significantly lower in teenagers and young adults than in children for several cancer types.
“Cancer has a devastating impact on youngsters. Children and young people can face months of painful treatment, as well as the upset of being away from home and friends.
"Also, some unfortunately face living with long term side effects from their treatment, such as infertility and disability, which have an impact throughout their adult lives.
“Sadly, not every youngster survives but we continue to fight for every child and every family and hope to double the amount we spend on children’s and young people’s cancers in the next five to 10 years.
"By boosting funding now, the best research teams could offer new hope by developing kinder and better treatments and cures, so we’re urging people across Scotland to back Cancer Research UK Kids and Teens."
