Abstract

It is difficult to diagnose childhood cancer in its early stages. Many of presenting signs and symptoms are nonspecific. Those are as same as signs and symptoms of more common childhood diseases. So it is important to doubt/suspect there should be a cancer or not behind his/her signs and symptoms. The earlier diagnosis can be associated with a better prognosis. Pediatric cancers is notoccur so frequently. Initial presentation of symptoms is much more common and less serious illnesses. For examples generalized malaise, fever, adenopathy are signs and symptoms of leukemia, lymphoma, neuroblastoma and Ewing's sarcoma. Headache, nausea and vomiting are signs and symptoms of brain tumor and leukemia. Epistaxis is symptom of leukemia. Diarrhea, vomiting, hepatomegaly and splenomgaly are signs and symptoms of neuroblastoma, hepatoblastoma, leukemia and lymphoma. Hematuria is symptom of Wilm's tumor and soft tissue sarcoma. Soft tissue mass is symptom of rhabdomyosarcoma, soft tissue sarcoma and primitive neuroectodermal tumor. One study from emergency department of aalarge children's hospital revealed that 7.3% of new diagnoses of childhood cancer were made in the emergency department. But the annual incidence of cancer in children is 150 per 1,000,000. Therefore average single doctor is likely to encounter only one case every 20 years. So it is difficult to diagnose childhood cancer and it is most important that you suspect cancer always.