LONG delays in diagnosis are affecting teenagers' chances of surviving cancer.

A report by the Teenage Cancer Trust shows that some young people have to visit their doctor several times and wait years before their cancer is diagnosed.

Georgina Hillman, from the Youth Cancer Trust a Bournemouth based charity, which provides free holidays for youngsters with cancer, said: "This is something we are hearing repeatedly from young people.

"We had one girl who was really ill for about a year, she kept going back to her doctor and was told she had a virus but luckily she was persistent and eventually she was diagnosed with stage four lymphoma.

"The quicker young people are diagnosed the better their chances.

"Young people's cells are growing very quickly which means that cancer also grows very quickly."

She applauded the work of the Teenage Cancer Trust and said doctors need to be educated about the symptoms of cancer in young people and that more money should be spent on research into young people's cancer.

Tim Eden from the Teenage Cancer Trust said: "We need to assist professionals in recognising signs and symptoms as being potentially serious, and be more rapid in their response and above all consider the possibility of cancer in this age range.

"Whether this will improve survival remains unclear but it will reduce anxiety, anger and distrust of doctors."

About 2,000 young people are diagnosed with cancer every year and it is the most common disease causing death in the 15-24 age range.