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December 6, 2007 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - From 1990 to 2004, death rates in children with cancer in the US fell from 34.2% to 27.3%, according to findings released Thursday in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The figures also show, however, that while the overall death rate fell during that period, the reductions differed by geographic region and race/ethnicity. Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention assessed trends in childhood cancer mortality from 1990 to 2004 by analyzing data from the National Vital Statistics System. According to the report, the bulk of childhood cancer deaths in 2004 were due to leukemias and brain/nervous system malignancies: each accounted for roughly 25% of deaths. The annual drop in mortality during the study, however, was much higher for leukemias than for brain/nervous system malignancies: -3.0% vs. -1.0%. Of the racial groups studied, the annual change in childhood cancer mortality was highest for American Indian/Alaska Natives, -2.0%, and lowest for blacks and Asians/Pacific Islanders, -1.6%. In terms of ethnicity, non-Hispanics experienced an annual drop of -1.6%, while Hispanics experienced a reduction of just -1.0%. Annual reductions in childhood cancer mortality by geographical region ranged from -1.4% in the West to -2.1% in the Midwest, the researchers note. "The overall trend of declining childhood cancer mortality during 1990-2004 likely reflects better treatment of childhood cancer," the report states. "Possible causes of disparities in childhood cancer death rates need to be studied further. By addressing these factors, geographic and ethnic disparities in childhood cancer death might be reduced, and children with cancer might live longer." Copyright 2008 Reuters. Click for Restrictions.
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