Cyprus Records Europe’s Fastest Growth in Childhood Cancer

Over the past ten years, the number of new cancer cases among children and adolescents in Cyprus has increased significantly. According to data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization (IARC-WHO), the growth rate was higher than in a number of other European countries, including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Finland and Denmark.

This was stated by Konstantinos Makris, professor of environmental health at Cyprus University of Technology. According to him, the reasons for this trend remain unknown for now, as Cyprus lacks a system for long-term monitoring of risk factors that could affect the development of cancer in children.

The expert believes that particular attention should be paid to environmental exposure, air pollution, pesticides, dietary patterns, obesity and other factors, especially during pregnancy and early childhood.

At the same time, the cancer mortality rate in Cyprus remains stable thanks to advances in diagnostics and modern treatment methods. Specialists emphasize that a significant share of cancer cases can be prevented through effective preventive measures and early identification of risk factors.