9 “Typical” Symptoms That May Signal Early-Stage Can.cer in Young Children: Take Your Child to the Hospital Immediately

Childhood cancer can be diagnosed at any age, from newborns to adolescents. The number of cases diagnosed each year has not declined over the past nearly 20 years.

In 2021, an estimated 15,590 children and adolescents (ages 0–19) were diagnosed with cancer in the United States. Of these, about 10,500 cases occurred in children aged 0–14, with an estimated 1,190 deaths from the disease. Among adolescents aged 15–19, approximately 5,090 were diagnosed, and about 590 died from cancer.

Cancer is the leading cause of death from disease among children in the United States.

In some low- and middle-income countries, only about 20% of children survive. More than 40,000 children undergo cancer treatment each year.

In Vietnam, there are not yet complete nationwide statistics.

According to the World Health Organization, childhood cancer in general cannot be prevented or screened for.

Improving outcomes for children with cancer requires early and accurate diagnosis, followed by effective treatment.

Most childhood cancers can be cured with generic medicines and other forms of treatment, including surgery and radiotherapy. Treatment for childhood cancer can be cost-effective across all income levels.

Avoidable deaths from childhood cancer in low-income countries include factors such as lack of diagnosis, misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis, barriers to care and follow-up, treatment abandonment, deaths due to treatment toxicity, and higher relapse rates.

A childhood cancer data system is essential to drive continuous improvements in quality of care and to inform policy decisions.

Accurate diagnosis is crucial for treating children with cancer, because each type of cancer requires a specific treatment regimen, which may include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplantation, and other approaches. Access to effective diagnostics, essential medicines, pathology services, blood products, radiotherapy, psychosocial support, and supportive care varies widely and is unequal around the world.

Parents should take their child to a pediatric oncology specialist immediately if the child shows any of the following signs:

• A lump or abnormal swelling in the abdomen or anywhere on the body.

• Persistent fever with no clear explanation.

• Fatigue, paleness, or rapid weight loss.

• Easy bruising or unexplained bleeding.

• Persistent, unexplained pain; headaches accompanied by vomiting.

• Sudden changes in balance, behavior, personality, or learning ability.

• Swelling of the head.

• The appearance of a white reflex or white spot in the eye.

• Any time parents feel concerned or suspicious.

If a child has one or more of the above signs for several days or weeks, they should be taken for medical examination to detect possible symptoms of the disease.