Latest news with #bonecancer
The Independent
28-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
Age group which waits the longest for cancer diagnosis revealed in new study
Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Teenagers in the UK with bone tumours are facing longer waits for cancer diagnosis, while infants and those with kidney cancer receive the quickest diagnoses, a new study has found. Researchers at the University of Nottingham analysed data from 2,000 children diagnosed with cancer between September 2020 and March 2023 and found significant disparities in diagnosis times depending on the type of cancer. Delays in diagnosis can have severe consequences, as untreated tumours can grow bigger and spread around the body, requiring more aggressive treatments and reducing the chances of a successful recovery. While some children were diagnosed on the same day their symptoms began, others waited up to six years, experts found. On average, a diagnosis came within 4.6 weeks. The time to diagnosis was found to be longest among 15 to 18-year-olds, who waited for an average of 8.7 weeks before they were told they had cancer. And those with bone cancer were found to wait for more than three months on average, or 12.6 weeks. open image in gallery On average, children with cancer were diagnosed within 4.6 weeks ( Peter Byrne/PA ) Meanwhile, children under the age of one waited just 3.7 weeks before diagnosis and children with kidney cancer, also known as renal cancer, waited for an average of 2.3 weeks before they were diagnosed. But they said that overall, half of the children and young people diagnosed with cancer in the UK are waiting for four weeks or more to be diagnosed. They also studied where children were diagnosed and found the majority (67 per cent) were diagnosed after a trip to A&E, after an emergency referral or emergency admission to hospital. Some cancer types, including bone tumours, soft tissue tumours Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis and brain tumours, were associated with a higher number of medical visits before diagnosis. Writing in the Lancet Regional Health – Europe, researchers said their work highlights 'disparities for age and diagnostics groups' when it comes to cancer diagnoses as they called for more efforts to 'accelerating diagnosis' for those facing 'lengthy' waits. They said the findings could help inform health officials as they draw up a national cancer plan for England. Signs and symptoms of bone cancer NHS The main symptoms include: persistent bone pain that gets worse over time and continues into the night swelling and redness (inflammation) over a bone, which can make movement difficult if the affected bone is near a joint a noticeable lump over a bone a weak bone that breaks (fractures) more easily than normal problems moving around – for example, walking with a limp If you or your child is experiencing persistent, severe or worsening bone pain, visit your GP. Dr Shaarna Shanmugavadivel, from the School of Medicine at the University of Nottingham, said: 'For the first time, we understand the current landscape of childhood cancer diagnosis in the UK. 'There is an urgent need to focus efforts on young people and tumour types such as bone tumours that are still experiencing lengthy intervals. The earliest possible diagnosis is key as time is crucial. 'Untreated, tumours grow bigger and can spread around the body, requiring more extensive surgery and more intensive therapies to offer cure. 'The findings will help focus efforts towards closing the gap for these groups, ensuring more children and young people receive a diagnosis sooner.' Ashley Ball-Gamble, chief executive of CCLG: The Children and Young People's Cancer Association, and co-author of the study, added: 'It's crucial that we understand why certain groups, such as older teenagers, or those with certain cancers, such as bone and brain tumours, are likely to face a lengthier diagnosis. 'By recognising these differences, we hope to work towards faster diagnoses and improved survival rates.'
The Sun
27-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
The children's cancer that takes the longest to diagnose – and the signs to watch for
TEENAGERS and children with bone cancer face longer waits for a diagnosis than those with other types of the disease, a new review has revealed. The longer cancers are left untreated the bigger they can grow and harder they are to cure, Cancer Research UK warns on its website. 3 Scientists from the University of Nottingham analysed data on 2,000 young patients diagnosed with the disease between September 2020 and March 2023. They found the average time to diagnosis was 4.6 weeks – but some children waited up to six years. Young people aged 15 to 18 had the longest delays, waiting an average of 8.7 weeks to be diagnosed. But kids with bone cancer faced the worst delays overall, waiting an average of 12.6 weeks – more than three months. In contrast, babies under one were diagnosed after just 3.7 weeks on average, and children with kidney cancer were diagnosed in just 2.3 weeks. The most common form of bone cancer in children is osteosarcoma - with 30 new cases diagnosed in the UK year, according to Children With Cancer UK. Although it can develop in any bone, it occurs most often in the bones on either side of the knee (tibia or femur) and in the upper arm. The symptoms are: Bone pain – this may come and go initially but then become more persistent Tenderness Redness Swelling Fracture may occur after a minor injury at the site of the weakened bone Experts said half of all children and young people with cancer in the UK are still waiting four weeks or longer for a diagnosis. 3 The signs and symptoms of cancer Most cases (67 per cent) were only picked up after an emergency trip to A&E or hospital. Bone tumours, soft tissue tumours, Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis and brain tumours were all linked to more GP visits before a diagnosis was finally made. Writing in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, the researchers said there were 'disparities for age and diagnostic groups' and called for urgent action to speed up diagnosis for those facing lengthy waits. Dr Shaarna Shanmugavadivel, from the University of Nottingham, said: 'For the first time, we understand the current landscape of childhood cancer diagnosis in the UK. 'There is an urgent need to focus efforts on young people and tumour types such as bone tumours that are still experiencing lengthy intervals. 'Earliest possible diagnosis is key as time is crucial. Untreated, tumours grow bigger and can spread around the body, requiring more extensive surgery and more intensive therapies to offer cure. 3 'The findings will help focus efforts towards closing the gap for these groups, ensuring more children and young people receive a diagnosis sooner.' Ashley Ball-Gamble, chief executive of The Children and Young People's Cancer Association, and co-author of the study, added: 'It's crucial that we understand why certain groups, such as older teenagers, or those with certain cancers, such as bone and brain tumours, are likely to face a lengthier diagnosis. 'By recognising these differences, we hope to work towards faster diagnoses and improved survival rates.'
