TOO LATE
The children’s cancer that takes the longest to diagnose – and the signs to watch for
Experts said half of all children and young people with cancer in the UK are still waiting four weeks or longer for a diagnosis
TEENAGERS and children with bone cancer face longer waits for a diagnosis than those with other types of the disease, a new review has revealed.
The longer cancers are left untreated the bigger they can grow and harder they are to cure, Cancer Research UK warns on its website.
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Scientists from the University of Nottingham analysed data on 2,000 young patients diagnosed with the disease between September 2020 and March 2023.
They found the average time to diagnosis was 4.6 weeks – but some children waited up to six years.
Young people aged 15 to 18 had the longest delays, waiting an average of 8.7 weeks to be diagnosed.
But kids with bone cancer faced the worst delays overall, waiting an average of 12.6 weeks – more than three months.
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In contrast, babies under one were diagnosed after just 3.7 weeks on average, and children with kidney cancer were diagnosed in just 2.3 weeks.
The most common form of bone cancer in children is osteosarcoma - with 30 new cases diagnosed in the UK year, according to .
Although it can develop in any bone, it occurs most often in the bones on either side of the knee (tibia or femur) and in the upper arm.
The symptoms are:
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- Bone pain – this may come and go initially but then become more persistent
- Tenderness
- Redness
- Swelling
- Fracture may occur after a minor injury at the site of the weakened bone
Experts said half of all children and young people with cancer in the UK are still waiting four weeks or longer for a diagnosis.
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The signs and symptoms of cancer
Most cases (67 per cent) were only picked up after an emergency trip to A&E or hospital.
Bone tumours, soft tissue tumours, Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis and brain tumours were all linked to more GP visits before a diagnosis was finally made.
Writing in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, the researchers said there were “disparities for age and diagnostic groups” and called for urgent action to speed up diagnosis for those facing lengthy waits.
Dr Shaarna Shanmugavadivel, from the University of Nottingham, said: “For the first time, we understand the current landscape of childhood cancer diagnosis in the UK.
“There is an urgent need to focus efforts on young people and tumour types such as bone tumours that are still experiencing lengthy intervals.
“Earliest possible diagnosis is key as time is crucial. Untreated, tumours grow bigger and can spread around the body, requiring more extensive surgery and more intensive therapies to offer cure.
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“The findings will help focus efforts towards closing the gap for these groups, ensuring more children and young people receive a diagnosis sooner.”
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Ashley Ball-Gamble, chief executive of The Children and Young People’s Cancer Association, and co-author of the study, added: “It’s crucial that we understand why certain groups, such as older teenagers, or those with certain cancers, such as bone and brain tumours, are likely to face a lengthier diagnosis.
“By recognising these differences, we hope to work towards faster diagnoses and improved survival rates.”
How long it takes to diagnose different childhood cancers
Bone cancer – 12.6 weeks
Skin and other carcinomas – 9.6 weeks
Lymphoma – 7.9 weeks
Brain and spine tumours – 7.6 weeks
Soft tissue cancers – 6.9 weeks
Germ cell tumours – 5.9 weeks
Liver tumours – 5.1 weeks
Neuroblastoma – 4.4 weeks
Eye cancer (Retinoblastoma) – 4.1 weeks
Leukaemia – 3.1 weeks
Kidney cancer – 2.3 weeks
Source: University of Nottingham
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