Symptoms of cancer in children

Early diagnosis is important, especially with solid tumors, because, in most cases, treatment can be less laborious and more successful if the tumor is smaller and has not spread from the area around the disease at the time of diagnosis. Every mother should know that cancer in children is rare and can be treated in more than 70% of patients. Doctors and specialists will list the most common types of childhood cancer and their signs that indicate the disease.

The most common type of cancer in childhood

– blood cancer
– Tumors of the central nervous system.
– Lymphomas.
– Neuroblastoma.
– Soft tissue sarcoma.
– Nephroblastoma (Wilms tumor).

Warning signs of cancer in children

– Excessive pallor and bleeding.
– The presence of freckles on the face.
– Cramps.
– Unexplained bruises.
– Continuous bleeding from the mouth, gums or nose.
– Anemia.
– Persistent, unexplained fever, and weight loss.

Definite symptoms associated with childhood cancer

Doctors must first rule out conditions such as a urinary tract infection, pneumonia, or inflammatory bowel disease (and tuberculosis or HIV in certain circumstances).
Then think of a malignant tumor that is accompanied by the following symptoms:

1 – Constant or recurring bone pain

The pain is in a specific area, and often wakes the child up at night and is not related to trauma. The child may develop a limp, or may become reluctant to bear weight or stop walking, so back pain in the child should always be monitored. , as bone pain may be a feature. A characteristic of leukemia or a metastatic solid tumor such as neuroblastoma.

2- Unexplained neurological signs

It is accompanied by headaches that last more than two weeks, vomiting in the early morning, and seizures, in addition to cranial nerve paralysis.

3- Deterioration in school performance and absence from school

Which is accompanied by focal eye spasms, then focal neurological deficit.

4 – Local lymphadenopathy

When persistent and unexplained, look for axillary/vaginal/cervical glands that are larger than 2 cm, hidden, firm, painless, and do not get smaller after two weeks of antibiotic treatment (if used for suspected infection).

5 – Swollen glands in the area above the collarbone

Obtaining a biopsy opinion will give the true result, especially if the lymphadenopathy persists for more than 6 weeks. The antibiotics had no effect.

6 – Swelling of the abdomen, testicles, head, neck and limbs

If a young child has an abdominal swelling or a suspected mass, the family should undergo an ultrasound examination immediately.

7- Changes in the eye

Such as the appearance of a white reflex, the beginning of strabismus and swelling of the eyes, loss or changes in the vision, in addition to darkening of the eyes. In this case, it is necessary to especially look at tumors of the central nervous system. system and retinoblastoma. Black eyes, especially if they are bilateral, may be due to neuroblastoma, myeloid leukemia, or histiocytosis.

8- Difficulty breathing

A child with recurrent symptoms of stridor and wheezing who has been treated for croup and has not improved or has “asthma” needs a chest X-ray (CXR) to rule out a mass due to T-cell lymphoma. This is a medical emergency, especially if the veins are bulging above the chest wall due to obstruction of the superior vena cava.
Unilateral nasal obstruction may also be a sign of a mass in the posterior nasal space if not due to a foreign body.