Childhood Cancer Awareness Month 2024

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is observed every September to raise awareness about childhood cancer, support affected families, and promote research efforts. The campaign aims to highlight the different types of childhood cancers, the importance of early detection and the advancements in treatment, whilst encouraging fundraising efforts in order to provide further research to find a cure.

Every day in the UK, 10 children and young people will receive the devastating news that they have cancer. The 3 most common cancers in children are leukaemia, brain cancer, and lymphomas. Childhood cancer is very rare and because there are so many possible symptoms, sometimes your GP might ask you to wait to see if your child gets better.

Unlike adult cancers, childhood cancers are often not preventable and can require different approaches to treatment. This campaign educates the public about the importance of understanding the symptoms, the risk factors, and the available treatments for childhood cancers to ensure early diagnosis and effective care.

Cancer symptoms can be very similar to those of other childhood illnesses, so whilst it is best to get your child checked by the doctor, usually the symptoms listed are not usually cancer:

• unable to wee or blood in their urine or poo

• lumps or swelling anywhere in the body

• abdominal pain or swelling

• limb or bone pain that doesn't go away

• unexplained seizures (fits)

• persistent headaches

• fatigue, lethargy or changes in their behaviour

• frequent infections or flu-like symptoms

• unexplained vomiting

• shortness of breath, high temperature or sweating

• changes in the appearance of the eye or unusual eye reflections in photos

• frequent or unexplained bruising or bleeding

• a rash of small red or purple spots that can't be explained and don't fade under pressure from the side of a glass.