The rate of children dying from cancer has fallen by almost 60% over the last 40 years, according to Cancer Research UK. In the late 1960s, around 940 children died from the disease every year, but this has fallen to around 290.
In the late 60s, less than three out of 10 children survived beyond five years. Today, that figure is almost 8 out of 10. The good news is more marked for some types of cancer. Forty years ago, less than 40% of children diagnosed with a lymphoma would survive more than five years. Today almost 90% beat the disease. Furthermore, around 80% of children are now cured through treatment for leukaemia compared to less than 10% in the late 1960s.
