UK 'fails child cancer patients'

Survival rates for child cancer are worse in the UK than on mainland Europe, the BBC reports today, highlighting that more investment is required to improve treatment.

A study in Lancet Oncology highlighted the fact that diagnosis for some types of cancer is three times more likely in Germany than the UK.

The paper highlighted trials carried out on Wilm's tumour - a common childhood tumour - in Germany.

It showed that, between 1994 and 2001, 27.4% of patients had a cancer that was first identified during a visit to a health professional for an unrelated problem, or by routine surveillance.

By comparison, in the UK, just 11% of patients presenting to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London and 4% of patients referred to the Newcastle Hospital or the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle were identified.

Professor Alan Craft, of the University of Newcastle, said child cancer was a low priority for the NHS, and called for urgent reforms.

He recommended routine surveillance of children as standard across the UK and that health visitors needed to be more aware of the symptoms of cancer.

He also believes that children in the UK have been receiving a different treatment protocol from those in Europe, possibly involving first-line treatment or less-intensive treatment during relapse.

Professor Craft said: "Waiting lists and hospital beds keep chief executives awake at night, but I don't think the health of children does."