Long-term childhood cancer survival in Australia using period estimation.

Abstract

Estimates of childhood cancer survival are usually reported at 5years after diagnosis only. Using cases prevalent between 2014 and 2018 from the population-based Australian Childhood Cancer Registry, we used the period method to calculate relative survival up to 20years post diagnosis by cancer type. Twenty-year relative survival for all childhood cancers combined (n=14,353) was 83.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]=82.6%-85.0%). Survival decreased only slightly after 10years for most childhood cancers, except for some types of brain and liver tumours. These contemporary estimates of long-term survival provide valuable information to assist childhood cancer patients and their families in planning for the future.