Cancer results when cells grow out of control, develop abnormal sizes and shapes, go beyond their boundaries inside  the body and destroy neighboring organs. Cancer can happen in children. Some of the common childhood cancers include the following :

• leukemia
• lymphoma
• brain cancer

During the teen years, osteosarcoma ( bone cancer ) is more common.

Most cancer patients go through extreme periods of fatigue  as the body uses extra energy healing itself from cancer  and the side effects of treatment.

Most of the symptoms of childhood cancers are not specific and mimic  normal childhood diseases.

Symptoms of childhood cancers

ACUTE LEUKEMIA

Some of the symptoms include the following :

• chills
• fever
• loss of appetite
• swollen lymph nodes
• aching joints and bone
• fatigue
• shortness of breath
• pale complexion
• weakness
• unexplained bleeding
• bruising
• swollen abdomen due to enlargement of the spleen and liver
• occasionally you may have neurologic symptoms such as headaches, seizures or weakness

HODGKIN’S DISEASE AND  NON-HODGKIN’S  LYMPHOMA

Symptoms of these childhood cancers include the following :

• unexplained weight loss
• night sweats
• persistent fever
• loss of appetite
• fatigue
• itching
• painless swelling of  the lymph nodes in the neck or armpit
• distended stomach as a result of swelling of the lymph nodes in the stomach
• urinary retention
•  constipation
• swelling  of lymphoid tissues near the intestines or kidney
• shortness of breath or coughing as a result of lymph node mass in the chest

 
BRAIN CANCER

Symptoms depends on the location of the tumor in the brain and increased pressure in the skull. They include :

• dizziness
• seizures
• memory loss
• changes in behavior and personality
• confusion
• gradual weakness or paralysis
• persistent headache
• morning vomiting
• blurred vision
• impaired vision, speech, hearing ,smell, balance and motor skills

 
SARCOMAS OF THE SOFT TISSUES AND BONES

These childhood cancers are characterized these symptoms

Rhabdomyosarcoma : painless mass or swelling, tumors located in the abdomen or pelvis can cause pain, constipation and vomiting.

Osteosarcoma and Ewing’s Sarcoma: bone pain, chest pain or cough if mass is in the chest, swelling and a palpable mass.