What happens if childhood cancer is not treated?

Childhood cancer includes different diseases, so untreated effects depend on where the cancer began. A tumour can press on nearby organs, affect movement or breathing, or interfere with the production of healthy blood cells. Blood cancers may lead to tiredness, repeated infections, easy bruising, or bleeding. A solid tumour may appear as a new lump or swelling, cause ongoing pain, or change appetite and energy. These symptoms can also have non-cancer causes, and a symptom alone does not identify the diagnosis.

Doctors use an examination, blood tests, imaging, and sometimes a biopsy to determine the type and extent of disease. Children may need coordinated input from paediatric oncology, surgery, nursing, pharmacy, psychology, and rehabilitation teams.

If cancer is suspected or confirmed, contact the child’s paediatric oncology service promptly and keep scheduled tests. Ask how treatment may affect school, nutrition, activity, development, and fertility. Fertility preservation should be discussed before treatment when it may be relevant. Depending on the diagnosis, care may involve chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, or proton therapy. The team can explain the purpose of each treatment and how progress will be monitored.

Seek urgent help for difficulty breathing, severe pain, uncontrolled bleeding, a seizure, sudden weakness, confusion, dehydration, or a fever in a child receiving cancer treatment. Call the oncology team promptly for a new lump or swelling, unexplained fever, easy bruising, marked sleepiness, or a child who is drinking much less than usual.

Ask what type of cancer is suspected, which tests are still needed, whether treatment should begin quickly, how side effects will be handled at home, and who to call day or night if the child becomes unwell.