Childhood cancer
An overview
Each year in the UK, there are over 4,000 children and young people diagnosed with cancer. Unfortunately, it is not quite as rare as many of us may think.
Statistics tell us that on average that 1 child in every 450 will receive a diagnosis of cancer by the age of 15 so it is vital to be aware of the signs and symptoms of childhood cancer.Â
Positively, the outcomes of children and young people with cancer are improving all the time. Children who receive a diagnosis of cancer today are much more likely to do well compared to 20 years ago.
Today, more than 8 in 10 children with cancer survive for more than 5 years compared to just 3 in 10 in the 1960s. Improvements are being made, but there is still a way to go. Currently, UK survival rates lag behind their European counterparts.
Statistics
- Almost a half (49%) of children who develop cancer are diagnosed between the ages of 0 and 4 years.
- The survival rates of children diagnosed with cancer are improving over time with 5-year survival rates at 84%.
- There are over 1,800 children diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK.
- There are over 2,300 young people diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK.
- It is estimated that there are now over 35,000 childhood cancer survivors in the UK and this number is increasing all the time with more children surviving to reach adulthood than ever before.
Classification
When a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer, they are grouped into two main categories according to their age. The age cut offs are a little different to those most people may expect. This is because the types of cancer that children are most likely to have differ by age.
For the purposes of childhood cancer:
- A child is defined as being between 0 and 14 years of age.
- A young person is defined as being between 15 and 24 years of age.
Do you know the signs of childhood cancer?
By knowing the signs to look for you could help save the life of a child you know.
Page last reviewed May 2023
