Could you spot cancer symptoms in children?
Health experts are urging parents to be more vigilant about potential cancer symptoms in children, noting that early detection is crucial for survival. A new campaign highlights a 'rule-of-three' for persistent symptoms to help parents and doctors identify rare childhood cancers sooner.
Why it matters
Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death from disease in UK children under 15, and increased awareness can significantly improve diagnosis times and outcomes.
Image source, Family handout Image caption, Amelia Carroll was 13 when she got her cancer diagnosis last year
Although rare, cancer is the leading cause of death from disease among children under 15 in the UK - yet just under a third of parents say they feel confident recognising the symptoms.
About 1,900 children aged 0-14 are diagnosed with cancer each year, according to Cancer Research UK.
Thirteen-year-old Amelia Carroll, who is now in remission, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) last year.
Her mum Gemma recalls the initial symptoms being easy to overlook.
There was the tiredness, she says, and being out of breath after mild exercise but both were put down to being unfit and just post-school fatigue.
It was only when Amelia started presenting with bruises Gemma knew something wasn't right - within 10 days Amelia got her leukaemia diagnosis.
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