Health · Medical Research · 3 hrs ago
Experts urge parents to watch for persistent childhood cancer symptoms
About 1,900 children aged 0 to 14 are diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK, and the disease can develop quickly in children.
Experts are urging parents to watch for symptoms that persist or get worse, including extreme tiredness, looking very pale, unexplained bruises and lumps that grow or do not go away.
Amelia Carroll was 13 when she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia last year.
Her family initially put her tiredness and breathlessness down to everyday causes, but became concerned when unexplained bruises appeared.
Doctors confirmed her diagnosis within 10 days, and she is now in remission and back at school.
The campaign also gives professionals a “rule of three”: consider a referral if a child has three persistent symptoms, three doctor visits, or three weeks of unexplained symptoms.
More than eight in 10 children with cancer in the UK survive beyond five to 10 years, and experts say earlier diagnosis could mean less intensive treatment.
Experts urge parents to seek medical advice when a child has symptoms that persist, worsen or grow.
Warning signs can include extreme tiredness, paleness, unexplained bruises and growing lumps.
About 1,900 children aged 0-14 are diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK, according to Cancer Research UK.
Thirteen-year-old Amelia Carroll was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia after developing symptoms including bruises.
More than 80% of children with cancer in the UK survive, but experts say faster diagnosis could mean less intensive treatment.
- Who
- Experts, including paediatric oncologist Prof Bob Phillips, are urging parents to watch for persistent symptoms. The advice concerns children and their parents.
- What
- Experts say parents should look out for symptoms that persist, worsen or grow and consider contacting a doctor.
- When
- The BBC article was published on 11 October 2026.
- Where
- The advice and figures relate to the UK.
- Why
- Childhood cancer can develop more quickly than cancer in adults, and earlier diagnosis could lead to less intensive treatment.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
It's pretty quick but we want the other half to not have the wait of 16, 18, 20, 25 weeks from those first symptoms to get a diagnosis.
Raising awareness is his legacy
Amelia Carroll was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia at the age of 13.
Doctors confirmed Amelia's leukaemia diagnosis, and she was admitted to hospital to begin treatment.
Amelia undergoes regular bone marrow and blood tests while in remission.
- Annual diagnoses
- About 1,900 children aged 0-14
- Survival
- More than 80% of children with cancer in the UK survive
- Amelia Carroll
- 13 when diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia
- Rule of three
- Three persistent symptoms, three doctor visits, or three weeks of unexplained symptoms can prompt consideration of a referral
Sources
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