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Queenslanders are being asked to give generously to Cancer Council Queensland’s Christmas appeal, following the release of a Cancer Council Queensland report showing an increase in childhood cancer incidence rates for Australian girls.

The report, Childhood cancer incidence in Australia, 1983-2006, found a significant increase of 0.9 per cent per year in childhood cancer incidence rates for girls between the years 1983 and 2006.

Cancer Council Queensland’s Director of Cancer Registries, Associate Professor Joanne Aitken, said the report demonstrated the urgent need for additional research funding into children’s cancers.

“Cancer remains the leading cause of disease-related death in Australian children.

“There has been an increase in cancer incidence in girls aged 0-14 years, even though more boys than girls are diagnosed with cancer each year.

“Additional research is required to understand the causes of these patterns, and to help find better ways of preventing, detecting, and treating childhood cancers for boys and girls.”

The report was published by Cancer Council Queensland with information from the Australian Paediatric Cancer Registry (APCR), which has been fully funded by Cancer Council Queensland since its inception in 1977 and is Australia’s only national registry of childhood cancer.

In Australia, in the ten years from 1997-2006, 337 boys were diagnosed with cancer each year, compared to 282 girls.

“While we have made significant progress in treating childhood cancer, we still have a lot to learn about its causes,” A/Prof Aitken said.

“The Registry provides a starting point for researchers, improving our understanding of the patterns and trends and allowing us to monitor progress over time.”

Cancer Council Queensland hopes to raise over $600,000 for its 2009 Christmas appeal, to help continue the Registry’s work and fund other lifesaving cancer research projects in 2010.

The report provides the most up to date data on how many Australian children are diagnosed with cancer each year and trends for the major types of childhood cancer.

Donate to the appeal by calling 1300 663 936 or online.