Boost for battle against childhood tumours

Survival rates have improved dramatically since the early 1970s with at least 5,600 more children living for five years or more after diagnosis.

Four decades ago, only about a third of children with leukaemia, the most common childhood cancer, lived five years or more but today their survival rate is more than 80 per cent.

Survival rates for neuroblastoma, a cancer affecting nerve tissue, have more than tripled to 64 per cent.

The figures come as the charity Cancer Research UK today launches its Little Star Awards to recognise the bravery of young patients with the disease which affects about 130 youngsters each year in the region.

Relatives and friends of patients or survivors of the illness are being urged to nominate youngsters for special recognition of their courage.

Prof Peter Johnson, the charity’s chief clinician, said: “More children are surviving cancer than ever before and our efforts are continuing to make an even bigger impact.

“We are funding a trial to offer a pioneering new treatment to children with a particularly aggressive form of neuroblastoma that could help even more beat the disease.

“Childhood cancers are difficult to research, with relatively few children diagnosed each year. But our researchers are continuing our efforts to find ways to diagnose the disease earlier and looking for new drugs and making the existing treatments even more effective.”

Pam Kearns, director of the Cancer Research UK children’s cancer trials team which works at 21 centres including Sheffield Children’s Hospital and St James’s Hospital in Leeds, said: “The Little Star Awards recognise the courage of all children who have been diagnosed with cancer. Seeing their bravery is an inspiration to me and my colleagues every day.”

Celebrities backing the awards include Sheffield’s athletics star Jessica Ennis.

She said: “The bravery of kids diagnosed with cancer really is amazing and I have seen some of them first hand at the Sheffield Children’s Hospital – they are a real inspiration.

“To be able to award them for their positivity and fight is just a small way for us to show them that we are supporting them along the way.”

Each child nominated will receive a trophy, a T-shirt and bear, and a certificate signed by celebrities. The first 300 will also receive a £50 voucher from sponsors TK Maxx.

To nominate a Little Star or make a donation to the charity go to www.cancerresearchuk.org/littlestar. The awards are open to all under-18s who have cancer or have been treated for the disease in the last five years.