Child and teen cancer death rates drop 24% in past 20 years, CDC data shows

The rate of child and teen cancer deaths in the U.S. fell 24% from 2001 to 2021, according to a report released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Source: “Child and teen cancer deaths fell 24% in the last 2 decades, CDC says,” NBC, Nov. 16).
 
Death rates among children of all ages dropped between 2001 and 2011. But after 2011, only children 9 and younger saw "significant" declines.
 
All races saw cancer death rates fall 15-17% within the first decade, but only death rates among white children continued to drop significantly after 2011. The death rate dropped only slightly for Hispanic youths — and increased for Black youths — between 2011 and 2021. By 2021, the report noted, the rate for white youths was 19-20% lower than for their Black and Hispanic peers.
 
Pediatric oncologists say the overall decline could be explained by advancements in treatments for certain cancers.