Rising trend of new childhood cancer cases in EU over time

The reported number of cancer cases in children and adolescents indicates a rising trend over time across the EU, according to new childhood cancer data published in the European Cancer Information System (ECIS).

In total, about 13,800 children and adolescents (6,200 girls and 7,600 boys) aged between 0 and 19 years old are estimated to have been diagnosed with cancer in 2022 for EU-27 countries, meaning that 1 in 326 children were diagnosed with the disease before their 20^th birthday.

Sadly, over 2,100 children and adolescents (900 girls and 1,200 boys) were estimated to lose their lives due to cancer in 2022, resonating as a reminder that despite vast improvements in cancer survival rates in children and adolescents in Europe, much work still needs to be done to overcome this situation.

Although improved diagnostic techniques and cancer registration quality may contribute to the rising trend, researchers suggest that these factors cannot fully explain the observed rise, indicating a real increase in the number of cases. Certain infections and genetic traits can predispose a child to developing cancer, but, in contrast to cancer causes in adults, other risk factors for childhood cancers are poorly understood.

The types of cancers affecting children and adolescents vary with age. The most common cancers among young children (0-4 years old) are leukaemias, central nervous system tumours and neuroblastomas. In contrast, teenagers aged between 15 and 19 years old are more likely to develop lymphomas, central nervous system tumours, and other malignant epithelial tumours and melanomas.

This is quite different to the most common types of cancer affecting adults, such as breast, prostate, colorectal and lung cancers.

Incidence rates also vary with age. The highest overall cancer incidence is seen in the youngest children and in older children and adolescents.

Some cancers, like leukaemia, decrease with age while most other cancers, for example lymphomas, become more common.

Childhood cancer, while relatively rare compared with adult cancers, is a major public health priority in Europe due to its profound lifelong impact on survivors and their families.

Policy attention has grown significantly under Europe's Beating Cancer Plan(2021), which identifies childhood cancer as an area requiring dedicated action, including the creation of the EU Network of Youth Cancer Survivors and targeted research investment through the EU Cancer Mission.

Between 2021-2024, around 20% of the EUR 490 million EU Cancer Mission budget powered cutting-edge research in youth cancer, across the entire cancer continuum.

Complementing this, the European Reference Network for Paediatric Oncology works to improve access to high-quality healthcare for children and adolescents with cancer.

At the same time, the European Health Data Space and the European Cancer Inequalities Registry highlight the critical role of high-quality, standardised data to monitor trends and inequalities in cancer prevention, care and outcomes, including access to timely diagnosis and treatment, and survivorship care across Member States.

The updated European 'childhood incidence data' section of the European Cancer Information System brings data together from across Europe. This allows policymakers and stakeholders in Member States to evaluate trends, geographic variations and outcomes for different diagnostic groups of childhood cancer.