Experts warn that modern life is ‘giving kids cancer’… and that we’re ‘losing the battle’ to save children’s lives

HEALTH experts have warned that a worrying rise in child cancer can be blamed on our 21st Century lifestyles.

Medical professionals claim we are facing a cancer "epidemic", with a horrifying 40% rise in children's cancer being blamed on our modern lifestyles.

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Tablet computers, fast food, mobile phones, car emissions and cleaning agents are said to be among the culprits responsible for a spike in the disease.

The charity  exposed the risk as part of Child Cancer Awareness Month, claiming that 1,300 more children are affected each year than in 1998.

And the charity has called on the Government to help parents combat the everyday lifestyle dangers which are putting thousands of children at risk.

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Alasdair Philips, the charity’s trustee and science adviser, said: “We are losing the battle against childhood cancer.

“It is an epidemic. Up to age 14 we do see much better five-year survival rates, but with most types of cancer 50 per cent of children will die within several years. More children are dying."

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The , which points out that "only around 5% of cancers are caused by hereditary factors," is going to launch a three-day conference, Childhood Cancer 2016, to discuss how to combat the child cancer epidemic.

Mr Philips adds: “I believe up to seven out of 10 causes of cancer could be down to lifestyle."

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Of course, part of the statistical rise in the number of childhood cancer cases is due to the fact that the population is on the rise - meaning there are more children in total.

However, Children with Cancer UK claims that population growth can only be causing around 10% of the rise, with the rest of the spike unexplained.

And the charity says that the worrying rise in childhood cancer is costing the NHS around £130 million per year.

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However, they believe that there is still hope for the nation's children - but only if people limit their kids' exposure to the potential lifestyle risks.

Being more active, eating healthier meals and preventing children from coming into contact with carcinogenic substances are likely to help make the difference in the fight against cancer.

Mr Philips says: "I think if everyone made these small changes we would see this rise decrease.”