Lungs and breathing

Cancer symptoms in the lungs

There are lots of symptoms relating to the head and brain (neurological) that could potentially indicate childhood cancers. Brain tumours are the second most common type of childhood cancer, so it's important to look out for any new symptoms or changes in your child.

Criteria for referrals

Our referral guidance for childhood cancer is based on a long list of symptoms and is balanced so that low risk symptoms aren't missed, but that there aren't lots of unnecessary investigations which could cause anxiety and distress to children and families.

Symptoms in the AMBER list could be symptoms of childhood cancers, but could also be symptoms of other common illnesses. If your child has any of these symptoms, we would expect your doctor to consider making a referral or having a further discussion with a paediatrician.

Symptoms on the RED list are very high-risk symptoms and we would expect your doctor to make a referral. The urgency of referral depends on the symptoms.

Concerning symptoms
  • New/changed wheeze or noisy breathing (not related to asthma or infections)

High-risk symptoms
  • Immediate referral (within a few hours)
    • New wheeze or noisy breathing where it is harder to breathe lying down
    • Difficulty breathing with facial swelling
    • X-ray shows the space between the lungs widening*

Trust your gut!

As a parent, you know your child best. Lots of parents report having a 'gut feeling' that something wasn't right with their child, and 'parental concern' is now listed as a high priority for GPs to consider when referring a child or young person to hospital for suspected cancer.

If you feel that your GP should make a referral for your child, but they haven't - especially for those symptoms listed in the RED list - then you should ask again to be referred, or if your child starts to feel more ill you should take them to the nearest children's A&E hospital department for urgent assessment.

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