Spotting Early Signs of Childhood Cancer Can Save Lives, Experts Say

Cancer remains the leading cause of death from disease among children under 15 in the UK, even though the condition itself is rare. Figures from Cancer Research UK show that about 1,900 children aged zero to 14 get a cancer diagnosis every year, alongside an additional 2,300 teenagers and young adults aged 15 to 24. Despite these figures, just under a third of parents feel confident that they can spot the symptoms.

A Family's Experience

Thirteen-year-old Amelia Carroll was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia last year and is now in remission. Her initial signs, such as tiredness and being out of breath after mild exercise, were initially put down to post-school fatigue and being unfit. Her mum Gemma became truly concerned only after unexplained, raised red bruises appeared on both of her shins. An optician also noticed burst blood vessels during a routine appointment. Within 10 days of these signs, doctors confirmed the diagnosis and admitted Amelia to the hospital. Another case highlights the severity of the disease: 13-year-old Jake Swinscoe died of soft tissue cancer after being diagnosed with stage three, fusion positive alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma in July 2023.

What to Look For

Professor Bob Phillips, a paediatric oncologist, explains that childhood cancer develops much faster than in adults because children are growing. He advises parents to watch out for clusters of symptoms that persist, get worse, or grow over time, including lumps and bumps that do not go away. Medical professionals are being urged to follow a national campaign and a rule-of-three: consider a referral if a child has three persistent symptoms, has visited their doctor three times, or has experienced three weeks of unexplained signs. While about half of UK children receive a diagnosis within two weeks, others face waits of 16 to 25 weeks.

Context

Survival rates for childhood cancer in the UK have climbed significantly since the 1970s, with over 80 percent of children now surviving beyond five to 10 years or more. Experts note that even faster diagnoses could lead to less intensive treatments for patients across the country.