QUICK VIEW
What are the signs and symptoms of childhood cancer?
Symptoms are what the patient experiences and signs are what the healthcare professional sees. Signs are found during a physical exam, observation, or medical tests – it is what the doctor can observe. Examples in childhood cancer could be unexplained lumps or swelling, persistent pain in the bones or joints, unexplained bruising or bleeding, headaches that don’t go away, unexplained weight loss, tiredness, a paleness, vision changes, enlarged lymph nodes, nausea without an obvious cause or persistent fever.
Symptoms are experienced and described by the child (if old enough) or could show through behaviour if they can’t verbalize the symptom. Sometimes children could describe symptoms by drawing pictures or through role-play.
Related Parent Carers
Informational stressors for parents (caregivers) who have a child diagnosed with cancer
A child with cancer will always have a multidisciplinary team, and within that, each discipline (like nurses, doctors, therapists) may function as intra-disciplinary sub-teams to ensure consistency.
Educating your community of family and friends
Sharing a child’s cancer journey with one’s community can raise awareness, build understanding, and gather emotional or practical support. However, it is equally important to do so in a way that protects the child’s privacy and the family’s emotional wellbeing.
Message from parents to parents
Hearing that your child has cancer is one of the most overwhelming experiences a parent can face. It often triggers a series of emotional and psychological reactions, commonly described in phases like the stages of grief, though each parent may experience them differently.