THREE QUARTERS of children with cancer are cured today compared with only a quarter in the early 1970s, new figures have shown.
Over the last 40 years, 15,000 more children have beaten cancer than would have been the case if survival rates had not improved, said Cancer Research UK.
The chances of a child surviving leukaemia, the most common childhood cancer, for at least five years has increased from 33 per cent to more than 85 per cent.
Liver cancers in children have seen survival rates soar from just 14 per cent in the 1970s to 80 per cent today.
Kate Law, director of clinical research at Cancer Research UK, said: "Thanks to research, more children than ever are beating cancer. But there is much more to be done to give every child diagnosed with cancer the best chance of surviving and to improve treatments so that children can lead a full life after their diagnosis.
"Cancer Research UK's new strategy highlights our commitment to do more to beat cancer in children, teenagers and young adults.
"To turn this into reality we're funding a number of trials and research projects which aim to understand more about the disease and to develop more effective and kinder treatments."
The figures were released to mark the launch of Cancer Research UK's Little Stars Awards which recognise the bravery of children who have undergone cancer treatment.
Hollie Taylor, from Falkirk, helped to launch the awards. She is recovering after treatment for a rare form of cancer, a Rhabdoid tumour, which was diagnosed last year. The youngster, who will turn three on Sunday, endured 30 weeks of chemotherapy and daily radiotherapy sessions. In July tests showed that all that remains of the tumour is a 1cm mass, which may only be scar tissue.
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