According to the latest information, in 2020, 159 children under 19 were diagnosed with cancer in Croatia, including 67 girls.
In the past ten years, an average 157 children were diagnosed with a malignant disease per year, and an average 27 died at an age under 19.
Country-wide, of the 159 children diagnosed with a malignant disease in 2020, 49 were aged under 4, 27 were aged 5-9, 34 were aged 10-14, and 49 were aged 15-19.
The most frequent malignant diseases diagnosed in children were leukemia, lymphoma, and brain and spinal cord tumours.
Data published in the medical journal The Lancet show that the five-year survival rate among children suffering from malignant diseases in Croatia is above the European average.
The survival rate for lymphoma is 95%, that for Acute lymphocytic leukemia is 85% and for brain tumours 73%.
World Childhood Cancer day is observed on 15 February with the aim of raising awareness of malignant diseases in children and the need to provide support to those children and adolescents, their families and cancer survivors.
In line with a parliament decision, Croatia has observed the national childhood cancer day on 15 February since 2006.