Child Cancer Smart

A public and professional awareness campaign to improve early diagnosis of cancer in children and young people.

If a child has had 3 persistent symptoms, or has visited their doctor three times, or has had 3 weeks of unexplained symptoms, it might be time to pick up the phone and make a referral to the local on-call paediatrician.

Could it be cancer? 3 persistent symptoms, 3 visits, or 3 weeks of unexplained symptoms. Pick up the phone.

  • 3

    persistent symptoms

  • 3

    visits to the doctor

  • 3

    weeks of unexplained symptoms

All symptoms should be considered carefully if they persist (no improvement after 2 weeks) or have no clear explanation, as they might indicate other more serious illnesses.

Cancer symptoms often appear together as cluster rather than on their own. In addition, children may also have unexplained fever, tiredness or weight loss.

Childhood cancer symptoms by disease

  • Extremely pale
  • Spontaneous bleeding/bruising
  • Unexplained fever
  • Pinpoint rash
  • Bone/joint pain
  • Persistent worsening fatigue
  • Weight loss
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Abdominal mass/distention
  • Drenching night sweats
  • Unexplained fever
  • Bone pain
  • Dyspnoea
  • Persistent headache
  • Persistent recurrent/vomiting
  • Blurred/double/loss of vision
  • Abnormal eye movements
  • Balance/co-ordination/walking difficulties
  • Fit or Seizures (not with a fever)
  • Abnormal head position (wry neck, head tilt)
  • Behaviour change (especially lethargy)
  • Abdominal distension/mass with or without pain*
  • Weight loss
  • Unexplained neurological symptoms: numbness, weakness, back pain
  • Bruising around the eye
  • Head/neck swelling
  • Unexplained shortness of breath

You can also view these symptoms arranged by body part.