Childhood cancer symptoms – what to look out for

Prof Bob Phillips, a paediatric oncologist, says it’s key for parents to look out for clusters of symptoms that may be persisting, getting worse or bigger.

Consider contacting a doctor over the following:

Cancer in children develops much more quickly than in adults – effectively due to them growing.

Experts like Phillips at CCLG, the Children and Young People’s Cancer Association, are urging people to follow a national campaign aiming to raise awareness and improve diagnosis times.

It includes a rule-of-three for professionals: If a child has had three persistent symptoms, or has visited their doctor three times, or has had three weeks of unexplained symptoms consider making a referral.

Although, it’s important to note survival rates have risen significantly since the 1970s, with eight out of 10 children surviving beyond five to 10 years or more after diagnosis.