Signs and Symptoms of Childhood Leukemia

Signs and Symptoms of Childhood Leukemia

Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects a person’s blood cells. The problem starts when cancer causes white blood cells (WBC) to form in the person’s bone marrow, the place where new blood cells are made. As the WBC travels through the bloodstream, the production of normal blood cells is suppressed.

It’s often challenging for a parent to spot the signs and symptoms of childhood leukemia due to the fact that they closely resemble the symptoms of childhood illnesses that are much less serious than cancer. This type of cancer can either be chronic with symptoms developing slowly over time or acute with symptoms appearing suddenly.

According to the National Cancer Institute, childhood leukemia is the most common type of cancer in children under the age of 15. Moreover, statistics show that each year, over 4,000 American children are diagnosed with leukemia. Although the diagnosis of leukemia can be extremely daunting, it’s important to note that survival rates have continued to improve through the years.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Childhood Leukemia?

Although the symptoms of leukemia can vary from one kid to another, Kids Car Donations shares the common signs and symptoms of childhood leukemia.

1. Bruising and Bleeding

The blood test of a child who is diagnosed with leukemia will show an abnormally low platelet count. Since healthy blood platelets are needed to regulate the blood’s ability to clot, childhood leukemia often includes symptoms such as excessive bleeding, bruising, and the appearance of small red spots on the skin called petechiae due to blood vessels breaking up.

2. Loss of Appetite and Stomachache

Leukemia’s cancer cells accumulate in the liver, spleen, and the kidneys, which can cause these organs to enlarge. When this happens, the child will complain of a stomachache or loss of appetite.

3. Difficulty of Breathing

Since leukemic cancer cells clump around the gland at the base of a person’s neck called the thymus, the child may experience breathing trouble (coughing, wheezing, painful breathing) resulting from the swollen lymph nodes found in the chest that are pushing up against the windpipe.

4. Swelling

Leukemic cancer cells collect lymph nodes under the arms, in the neck, above the collarbone, and in the groin. When this happens, swelling occurs in those areas. When swollen lymph nodes are found in the chest or abdomen, bluish-red skin and swelling in the face, upper chest, and arms appear, accompanied by complaints of dizziness and headaches.

5. Frequent Infections

WBCs are normally responsible for fighting off infection. Since leukemia’s immature WBCs can’t get this job done, the child with leukemia may experience lengthy bouts of bacterial and viral infections that often show no improvement even with antibiotic treatment. Common symptoms include runny nose, fever, and coughing.

6. Anemia

Since leukemia suppresses the development of normal red blood cells that are responsible for distributing oxygen throughout the body, the symptoms of anemia usually appear. These include pale skin, fatigue, rapid breathing, lightheadedness, weakness, slurred speech, and a blood test that shows an abnormally low RBC count.

7. Bone and Joint Pain

One of the effects of childhood leukemia is the accelerated rate of blood cell reproduction that leads to overcrowding of blood cells in the bone marrow. When blood cells build up, the child may experience aches and pains in the bones and the joints. Others may even complain of pain in the lower back and the legs (which may cause limping).

Do You Have a Car that You Want to Get Rid of?

If you have a clunker that you’re itching to dispose of, consider donating it to Kids Car Donations today to give hope to children in your local area who are facing major health challenges. With your donation, you’ll be able to help our IRS-certified 501(c)3 nonprofit partners deliver critical programs and services that these children are in dire need of.

When you donate to us, you won’t have to worry about paperwork and towing services because we’ll handle everything for you for free. On top of that, we’ll mail to you your 100% tax-deductible sales receipt after the auction sale of your vehicle. This will enable you to claim a top tax deduction in the next tax season.

To get started with your vehicle donation, you can fill out our online donation form or ring us up at 866-208-5483 to give us the required information about you and your vehicle.

For more information about how everything works, feel free to check out our FAQs page or send us a message online.

We accept nearly all types of vehicles regardless of their age, mileage, or condition, which means we accept even vehicles that are no longer in good shape. We also accept vehicle donations anywhere in the United States since we have vehicle donation programs in all 50 states.

Don’t Waste Another Minute!

Children in dire need of medical assistance are counting on you for help. Your charitable contribution means the world to them. Don’t waste another minute on the fence. Call us at 866-208-5483 and donate to us your unwanted vehicle today!