The South Carolina Department of Public Health released “Childhood Cancer in South Carolina: 25-Year Trends in Incidence, Survival and Mortality.” This is the state’s first report of its kind related to childhood cancer. It was made in collaboration with various institutions including the South Carolina Children’s Hospital Collaborative, the University of South Carolina and the South Carolina Cancer Alliance. The report looks at trends in childhood cancer in the state and how South Carolina residents are affected by using over 20 years’ worth of data.
Overview of Findings:
Leukemias, lymphomas, and brain and central nervous system neoplasms accounted for over 50% of childhood cancers in South Carolina. With almost 70% of childhood cancer affecting children 14 years old and younger. Incidence of childhood cancer was consistently higher in urban areas than in rural ones. However, mortality rates were higher in rural parts of the state with five-year survival rates improving at higher rates in urban areas (12%) than rural (7%). Race disparities were also noted, with Black and Hispanic children having higher mortality than White children despite childhood cancer incidence being highest among White children.
South Carolina was in line with overall trends in the United States of rising childhood cancer incidence. The report calls for further research on racial and ethnic disparities.
South Carolina plans to update the report every five years as a key part of the state’s “Cancer Plan” developed by the South Carolina Cancer Alliance. These efforts are instrumental in reducing the impact of cancer in the state and providing a systematic way of understanding how residents are impacted by cancer.