{
  "id": 13818204,
  "title": "Childhood cancer symptoms can be easily missed - here's what to look out for",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/childhood-cancer-symptoms-can-be-easily-missed-heres-what-to-look-out",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-11T23:03:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC Health",
    "slug": "bbc-health",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwm237z77dgyo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Childhood cancer remains a significant health concern in the UK, with around 1,900 children aged 0-14 diagnosed annually. Despite this, many parents feel uncertain about recognizing the symptoms, according to a recent survey. Amelia Carroll, a 13-year-old, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) last year after her mother noticed persistent bruising, shortness of breath, and fatigue. Experts stress the importance of observing clusters of symptoms that persist, worsen, or become more severe. The Children and Young People's Cancer Association (CCLG) advocates for a \"rule-of-three\" approach: if a child has three persistent symptoms, has visited a doctor three times, or has experienced three weeks of unexplained symptoms, healthcare professionals should consider a referral. Consequently, survival rates for childhood cancer have risen significantly since the 1970s, with eight out of ten children surviving beyond five to ten years post-diagnosis. Amelia's journey began with a single red bruise that was initially dismissed. Her mother recalls how doctors confirmed the leukemia diagnosis just ten days after noticing the bruising, and Amelia was admitted to the hospital for treatment. Currently in remission, Amelia attends regular check-ups and has returned to school. Experts emphasize that quicker diagnosis would reduce the need for intensive treatments. However, only about half of the children diagnosed with cancer in the UK receive a diagnosis within the two-week NHS target window. One tragic example is Jake, who died of soft tissue cancer at the age of 13. His initial symptoms of a stuffy nose and watery eyes were attributed to hay fever and tiredness until he developed a swelling across the bridge of his nose. Despite undergoing chemotherapy and proton beam radiation, Jake opted out due to severe side effects and passed away two weeks before his 14th birthday. His mother emphasizes the importance of raising awareness to ensure Jake's legacy lives on.",
  "summary": "Although rare, cancer is the leading cause of death from disease among children under 15 in the UK.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}