Spotting cancer in children is not easy. Childhood cancers are rare, and their early symptoms often look like everyday childhood illnesses. But experts say knowing which warning signs deserve a doctor’s visit can make a crucial difference, because early diagnosis improves outcomes.

The World Health Organization’s Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer aims to achieve at least 60 percent survival for children with cancer by 2030, through earlier diagnosis, better treatment and stronger health systems. Delayed diagnosis, misdiagnosis and difficulty accessing treatment remain major contributors to avoidable deaths, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

Warning signs to watch for

According to guidance from paediatric cancer specialists, one symptom on its own is unlikely to be cause for concern. But symptoms that persist, worsen, occur together, or leave a child seeming more unwell than expected deserve medical attention. Parents should trust their instincts and speak to a doctor.

The signs include persistent tiredness and paleness, recurring infections that do not go away, and flu-like symptoms such as lethargy and high temperature that linger. Unexplained bleeding or easy bruising, tiny red spots on the skin known as petechiae, and persistent night sweats or fever should be checked. Aches and pains that do not go away, especially in the bones, joints, back or legs and worse at night, along with an unexplained new limp or leg weakness, also warrant assessment.

Other warning signs are an unexplained lump or swelling anywhere on the body, especially in the abdomen, neck, chest, pelvis or armpits, significant unexplained weight loss, and persistent headaches, particularly with morning vomiting, seizures, visual problems or changes in behaviour. A white reflection in the pupil instead of the usual red reflex in photographs is a warning sign associated with retinoblastoma, an eye cancer of young children.

What to do, and what not to worry about

Leukaemia accounts for roughly one-third of childhood cancers, with lymphomas, brain tumours, neuroblastoma, bone and soft-tissue tumours, Wilms tumour and retinoblastoma among the others. Importantly, these symptoms have many causes, including infections and anaemia, and most do not mean cancer. The message is not to diagnose at home, but to recognise when further assessment is needed.

There is no standard screening method recommended for healthy children. Experts advise families to keep up with routine check-ups appropriate to the child’s age, and to seek medical advice without delay when suspicious symptoms appear. Children with known cancer predisposition conditions, such as neurofibromatosis, may need closer monitoring and an individual follow-up programme.