Incidence of childhood cancer in the UK
In the UK, only 1 in every 500 children under 15 develops a cancer. About 1,600 children (up to the age of 15) in the UK are diagnosed with cancer each year.
Types of childhood cancer
An overview of the main types of cancer affecting children and young people
Presentations of common childhood cancers
Early diagnosis is challenging due to this rarity and the diverse nature of childhood cancers. Early diagnosis may result in better outcomes, and may reduce distress to the child, young person and family.
Diagnostic investigations
A number of diagnostic investigations (tests and scans) may be carried out to diagnose a childhood cancer, and to determine the stage (the size of the tumour and whether or not it has spread beyond where it started in the body) of the cancer.
Prognosis and survival in the UK
Cure rates for children are much higher than for most adult cancers. The survival rate for children’s cancer has more than doubled since the 1960s.