**Childhood Cancer Cases in Cyprus Raise Concerns**
Recent data has highlighted a troubling trend in childhood cancer rates in Cyprus, with incidence levels surpassing the European Union (EU) average. According to the Cyprus 2025 Cancer Country Profile, prepared by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Commission, approximately 22 children aged 14 and under were diagnosed with cancer in 2022. This translates to an estimated incidence rate of 15 cases per 100,000 children, compared to the EU average of 13.7 cases per 100,000.
These figures are derived from estimates based on existing cancer registry information and historical trends rather than confirmed final case numbers for the year. The types of cancer affecting children in Cyprus vary, with leukaemia representing about 36% of cases. Brain and central nervous system tumours account for 27%, while lymphomas make up 19% of childhood cancer diagnoses.
In terms of mortality, childhood cancer in Cyprus has a rate of approximately 2.3 deaths per 100,000 children, which is slightly higher than the EU average of 2.1 deaths per 100,000. A population-based study utilizing the childhood cancer registry, which covered cases from 1998 to 2017, previously identified Cyprus as one of the countries with the highest reported incidence rates of childhood and adolescent cancers globally. This study estimated an age-standardised incidence rate of 203.5 cases per million among individuals aged 19 and younger.
Although the study did not find a statistically significant overall increase in childhood cancer rates during the examined period, it did identify a notable rise in thyroid cancer, particularly among girls and adolescents aged 15 to 19.
Professor Constantinos Makris, the director of the public health institute at the University of Technology (Tepak), discussed these findings in an interview, noting that recent data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer suggests an increase in new childhood cancer cases over the past decade. However, he expressed concern over the lack of clarity regarding why Cyprus is experiencing a disproportionate increase in cases compared to other European nations.
Makris pointed out that Cyprus currently lacks a comprehensive system for monitoring children's environmental, behavioural, and metabolic exposures over time. This gap in data limits researchers' ability to explore potential contributing factors to the rising cancer rates. Areas that require closer examination include obesity, dietary habits, exposure to smoking, air pollution, and chemical exposures such as pesticides.
While acknowledging that improved diagnostic capabilities might explain part of the observed increase in cases, Makris emphasized that this factor alone is unlikely to account for the entire trend. He stated, “Genes cannot alter that significantly within ten years,” indicating that other environmental and lifestyle factors may be at play.
In light of these findings, Makris advocates for the establishment of a national monitoring system that would track children's environmental and lifestyle exposures from pregnancy through early childhood. Such a system could provide valuable insights into the factors contributing to the rising incidence of childhood cancer in Cyprus and help inform public health strategies aimed at mitigating risks.
As health experts continue to investigate the reasons behind the concerning rise in childhood cancer cases, the call for enhanced monitoring and research remains critical. The health and well-being of future generations depend on understanding and addressing the factors that may be contributing to this troubling trend.