Cancer in children can be difficult to detect early, as the symptoms can often resemble those of a common disease.
Cancer is a serious disease that causes abnormal cells to grow out of control throughout the body. It is one of the leading causes of childhood death, highlighting the importance of early detection and diagnosis. Going through cancer can be an overwhelming experience for both parents and children. Parents are often faced with a range of emotions such as anger, frustration, guilt, sadness, fear, confusion, helplessness, and stress. The shift from taking them to daycare or playgrounds to frequent hospital visits can create emotional havoc. On the other hand, children may feel stressed due to multiple cancer treatments, medications, and therapies, which can often cause them to miss school trips, friends’ birthday parties, or school activities. This can affect not only their physical health but also their mental well-being. This is why parents are encouraged to be cautious and should never ignore signs or symptoms that mimic childhood cancer. Early detection can help save lives while improving patients’ quality of life.
Early warning signs of childhood cancer
Here are five signs of childhood cancer that require immediate attention I spoke to India.com and shared five signs of childhood cancer that require immediate attention:
• Unintentional weight loss: If your child is suddenly losing weight for no reason, you should not take it lightly. Sudden or unintentional weight loss can be an indication of several underlying health conditions, such as cancer. Book an appointment with a doctor right away for a complete diagnosis.
• Feeling tired: It is crucial to pay attention when your child seems to be experiencing extreme tiredness even after getting enough rest. This can be a warning sign of cancer in children. This is because the immune system tends to work harder to fight cancer cells in their body while depleting their energy levels.
• Headaches: Constantly complaining of headaches, especially early in the morning, can be worrying. This can make a person grumpy or irritable due to a severe headache that lasts for more than a few days and makes it difficult to carry out daily activities.
• Gastrointestinal problems: If your child has a healthy digestive system but has recently had difficulty digesting certain foods, this may be a cause for concern. This may include symptoms such as vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating, abdominal pain, and loss of appetite.
• Loss of interest: Children enjoy going outdoors and visiting friends or family, but the fact that they suddenly want to stay home and lose interest in activities they once enjoyed, such as drawing, playing, riding a bike or doing puzzles, can indicate a possible problem that parents should not ignore. It is recommended that parents consult a doctor to find out the underlying reasons for this change in behavior.
