Incidence of childhood cancer falling in Armenia, chief oncologist says

PanARMENIAN.Net - The incidence of cancer among Armenian children has been falling in recent years, Grigor Badalyan, the head of pediatric oncology and chemotherapy department at the National Center of Oncology said, according to ARKA.

WHO data suggest that 250.000 children all over the world are reported to develop primary malignant tumor, with 90.000 children dying from cancer each year. In industrialized countries cancer is the second leading cause of child mortality (ages 1 to 16). According to WHO experts, early diagnosis and treatment can cure up to 70% of tumors. According to statistics, the annual incidence of malignant tumors is growing at 3-4%.

Addressing a news conference Monday, February 15, Badalyan said 8,000 new cases of primary malignant tumors were detected in 2014 in Armenia, 53 of which were children under 18. He said 767 untreated patients aged 0-17 with malignant neoplasm (70 cases a year) were identified in 2004-2014.

“The highest figures were recorded in 2004 (82 cases) and in 2005 (97 cases). According to statistics, the incidence of cancer among children decreased by 25% in 2014, with the death rate falling by 40%,” said Badalyan.

According to him, the children’s cases differ from those of adults. In particular, kids are more likely to develop malignancies of the hematopoietic and lymphatic systems (40%), brain and central nervous system (15%), bone tissue (11%) and kidney (7%).

Treatment of child oncology in Armenia is free and all the necessary medicines are provided free of charge with the support of the charity fund "Give Life," sponsored by First Lady Rita Sargsyan.

According to official data, the number of patients with cancer in Armenia has grown by 9-10% over the last four years. Cancer mortality rate (aged from zero to 64) per 100.000 people has remained practically the same in recent years – 188 and 186 cases in 2014 and 2010 respectively.