Childhood Cancer Rates Stable in South Australia and Northern Territory, Yet Disparities Persist for Indigenous Children

Despite reports of increasing childhood cancer rates globally, a recent analysis has revealed that incidences of childhood cancer have remained stable over the past three decades in South Australia and the Northern Territory. Lead author Dr Suzanne Mashtoub, affiliated with Flinders University and the University of Adelaide, describes this finding as reassuring, suggesting that childhood and young adult cancers may have distinct underlying causes compared to young-onset adult cancers.

The study, published in the journal Cancers, involved collaboration among researchers from various institutions including Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, the Telethon Kids Institute, and the Menzies Research Institute in Darwin. It focused on cancer incidence and survival among children aged 19 and younger in South Australia and the Northern Territory from 1990 to 2017.

While overall cancer incidence showed a decrease over time among non-Indigenous children, rates remained unchanged among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, with lymphocytic leukemia being the most commonly diagnosed cancer. Survival rates improved overall in South Australia and stabilized in the Northern Territory. However, the analysis highlighted persistently lower survival rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children compared to their non-Indigenous counterparts, despite improvements over the past two decades.

Dr Justine Clark, an Indigenous cancer researcher at the Telethon Kids Institute and co-author of the study, emphasized the ongoing disparity in cancer survival rates for Indigenous children in the Northern Territory. She underscored the need for equitable access to high-quality cancer care and addressed systemic issues such as timely diagnosis, financial barriers, logistical challenges, and cultural safety within cancer services.

The authors advocate for a concerted global effort to better understand the risk factors contributing to childhood and early adulthood cancers. They believe that identifying these risk factors could facilitate the development of biomarkers for early cancer detection, potentially improving outcomes through timely intervention.

In conclusion, while the study offers reassurance regarding stable childhood cancer rates in South Australia and the Northern Territory, it also underscores the imperative to address disparities and improve outcomes, particularly for Indigenous children, through targeted healthcare interventions and systemic improvements.