Parents warned 'when to get help' over symptoms of common cancer in children under 10
Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, also known as ALL, is one of the most common types of childhood cancers particularly for children aged 10 and under, according to Mayo Clinic specialists. The devastating disease also quickly escalates through persistent and worsening symptoms as it infects white blood cells throughout the body.
ALL is generally believed to be more common in boys than girls with children under the age of 5 reportedly being the most at risk for developing the cancer. However, catching some of the early warning signs can make all the difference in treatment and recovery regardless of how old your child is.
Dr Asmaa Ferdjallah, a Mayo Clinic pediatric hematologist and oncologist, highlighted some of the specific symptoms and warning signs she wants parents to learn to keep ahead of the worst-case scenario. She admitted that many of first symptoms of ALL may appear like other common illnesses such as the flu, but what differentiates it is pairings of specific, persistent symptoms.
For example, she warned parents to see a medical professional if they’ve noticed their children get persistent or unusual high fevers, swollen lymph nodes and bruises, particularly if these all occur at the same time. The expert explained: “With ALL, we often see frequent or daily high fevers that you can't explain. We'll often see rapid weight loss that doesn't make sense for a child's activity level. And we always ask about lumps or bumps, which can indicate swollen lymph nodes, as well as night sweats, bone pain and any new bruising or bleeding."
The doctor put some worried parents at ease adding: “ALL declares itself. It’s not going to sneak up on you. It creates a constellation of symptoms that we see." She also reassured that seeing a handful of these symptoms occasionally likely won’t be anything to worry about.
The NHS urges Brits to take their child to the A&E if they suddenly develop a swollen and red face, neck, arms or hands. It may also be a medical emergency if the child has swollen veins in their neck or chest that came on unexpectedly.
The other main symptoms include, as noted by the NHS, a feeling of tiredness, looking more pale than usual, pain in the bones or joints, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, or a swollen stomach that could be painful, uncomfortable, or a feeling of fullness. Some of the more rare symptoms can be a bit more worrisome like blurred vision and seizures.