{
  "id": 13823109,
  "title": "Could you spot cancer symptoms in children?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/could-you-spot-cancer-symptoms-in-children",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-11T23:03:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC News",
    "slug": "bbc-news",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwm237z77dgyo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Cancer can be devastating for children, being the leading cause of death from disease under the age of 15 in the UK. Despite this, only a third of parents feel confident in recognising cancer symptoms in their children. In 2022, approximately 1,900 children aged 0-14 were diagnosed with cancer annually, according to Cancer Research UK.\n\nAmelia Carroll, now in remission, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) at the age of 13 last year. Her mother, Gemma, recalls how the initial symptoms such as tiredness and mild breathlessness were initially attributed to Amelia being unfit and post-school fatigue. However, it was the appearance of bruises that raised concerns - within 10 days, Amelia received her leukaemia diagnosis.\n\nProf Bob Phillips, a paediatric oncologist, stresses the importance of parents looking out for clusters of symptoms that persist, worsen or become more pronounced. These may include lumps and bumps that grow over time. If a child exhibits three persistent symptoms, visits a doctor three times, or experiences three weeks of unexplained symptoms, it is recommended to make a referral, as per the Children and Young People's Cancer Association's national campaign.\n\nDespite survival rates for childhood cancer in the UK being over 80%, experts encourage quicker diagnosis to prevent more intensive treatments. Currently, around half of the children diagnosed with cancer receive their diagnosis within two weeks. Lynsey Swinscoe, whose son Jake died from soft tissue cancer at 13, shares her family's experience. Jake's symptoms, initially attributed to hay fever and end-of-term fatigue, were only recognised as related to cancer when a swelling across his nasal bridge prompted a trip to the GP. Jake underwent nine rounds of chemotherapy and proton beam radiation before passing away peacefully two weeks before his 14th birthday.",
  "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."
}