Childhood Cancer: Recognizing the Signs and Improving Diagnosis

Cancer remains the leading cause of death from disease among children under 15 in the UK, yet awareness of its symptoms among parents can be low. Approximately 1,900 children aged 0-14 are diagnosed with cancer each year, according to Cancer Research UK. While survival rates have significantly improved since the 1970s, with over 80% of children surviving beyond five to 10 years, experts emphasize that quicker diagnosis can lead to less intensive treatments.

Amelia Carroll, who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) at age 13 and is now in remission, experienced symptoms that were initially overlooked. Her mother, Gemma, recalled Amelia's extreme tiredness and breathlessness after mild exercise being attributed to being unfit or post-school fatigue. It was only when Amelia developed unexplained bruises that her condition was recognized. Within 10 days, she received her leukemia diagnosis.

Pediatric oncologist Prof. Bob Phillips advises parents to look for clusters of symptoms that persist, worsen, or grow. Key indicators to consult a doctor about include extreme tiredness, paleness, unexplained bruises, and lumps or bumps that are increasing in size or not disappearing over time. Cancer in children can develop rapidly due to their ongoing growth, making prompt identification crucial.

CCLG, the Children and Young People's Cancer Association, advocates for a national campaign to boost awareness and shorten diagnosis times. For healthcare professionals, a rule-of-thumb suggests considering a referral if a child presents with three persistent symptoms, has visited their doctor three times for related issues, or has experienced three weeks of unexplained symptoms.

Lynsey Swinscoe's son, Jake, died of soft tissue cancer at age 13. His initial symptoms of a stuffy nose and watery eyes were mistaken for hayfever, and his fatigue was attributed to end-of-term tiredness. A swelling on his nose prompted a GP visit, leading to the diagnosis of soft tissue sarcoma. Jake underwent chemotherapy and proton beam radiation but opted out of further treatment due to severe side effects. He passed away shortly before his 14th birthday.

Around half of children diagnosed with cancer in the UK receive their diagnosis within two weeks. However, experts aim to reduce the waiting time for the remaining half, which can sometimes extend to 25 weeks from the onset of initial symptoms. Cancer Research UK data indicates that over 400,000 new cancer cases are diagnosed annually in the UK, with only 54% meeting the 28-day NHS target window. An additional 2,300 teenagers and young adults (aged 15–24) are diagnosed each year.