Child cancer treatment 'proves successful'

Advances in cancer treatment have meant many more children are surviving the disease.

New figures released by Cancer Research UK reveal that 5,600 more youngsters have lived for at least five years longer than if they were diagnosed in the 1970s.

The charity states the rise in survival rates for the disease can be attributed to advancements in the treatment of cancer, particularly the development of chemotherapy drugs.

Success stories include the rise in the leukaemia survival rate from 33 per cent in the early 1970s to the current rate of 80 per cent and improvements in neuroblastoma treatments, which have given around 800 children a longer life expectancy.

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Cancer treatment news : 16 November 2011