Childhood cancer mortality in the European Community, 1950-1989

A descriptive study on childhood cancer mortality was carried out in the European Community (EC) covering the period 1950-1989. An annual total of 3392 cancer deaths were seen among children in the EC during the period 1979-1988, yielding an age-standardised cancer mortality rate of 50 per 10(6). Leukaemia was the most prevalent cause of death among children with cancer (39%). Excess mortality was observed among boys for cancers at all sites combined and for cancers at specific sites, exclusive of malignant tumours of the kidney. This excess is presumed to be due mainly to sex differences in incidence. Markedly higher mortality rates of childhood cancer were seen in southern countries of the EC than in central and northern countries. This difference appeared to be due mainly to differences in cancer incidence among the countries and to a lesser degree to differences in treatment and survival. An overall decline in mortality from childhood cancer in the EC occurred from the early 1960s. In spite of the improvements in survival, however, childhood cancer remains a major cause of death in the EC, affecting about 15% of children between the ages of 1 and 14.