Has anybody got the awful news that their child has leukemia,what were the symptoms before they were diagnose?Did you notice anything the years before,like any wierd symptoms or trates.?Like headaches or sicknesses?
Answer by politically correct
Easy bruising or easy bleeding...but often the first symptom is the child gets really really sick, and when you bring them to the doctor, they run tests and find out by accident. There aren't any other strange symptoms or anything. The thing with leukemia, especially in kids, is that it happens quick - not over years, but weeks or sometimes days. Rarely it will happen over months before they become symptomatic. But there's nothing you can really look for.
Answer by Sabir
The first indications of leukemia often are nonspecific or vague. They may occur with other cancerous as well as noncancerous disorders. Although signs and symptoms vary for each type of leukemia, there are some general features. Broad symptoms of leukemia may include:
Fatigue
Malaise (vague feeling of bodily discomfort)
Abnormal bleeding
Excessive bruising
Weakness
Reduced exercise tolerance
Weight loss
Bone or joint pain
Infection and fever
Abdominal pain or "fullness"
Enlarged spleen, lymph nodes, and liver
Chronic leukemia often goes undetected for many years until it is identified in a routine blood test. In fact, nearly one in five chronic leukemia patients have no symptoms at the time of their diagnosis. Most symptoms of acute leukemia are caused by a lack of normal blood cells. This is due to overcrowding of the blood-forming bone marrow by leukemia cells.
Once the patient's blood is tested, signs of specific blood abnormalities may be noted, such as:
Anemia - a low number of erythrocytes (red blood cells) within the blood. Anemia can cause fatigue, "pale" skin coloration, and respiratory difficulties such as shortness of breath.
Leukopenia - a low number of normal leukocytes (white blood cells) that may increase the risk of infection.
Neutropenia (granulocytopenia) - too few mature neutrophils, the mature bacteria-destroying white blood cells that contain small particles, or granules.
Thrombocytopenia - a low number of blood-clotting platelets that can result in excessive bruising, abnormal bleeding, or frequent bleeding of the nose or gums.
Thrombocytosis - a high number of platelets. Some patients, especially those with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), may exhibit thrombocytosis, although their platelets may not clot properly, causing bruising and bleeding difficulties.
Because leukemia may cause enlarged spleen (splenomegaly) and enlarged liver hepatomegaly (enlarged liver), the overgrowth of these organs may appear as belly "fullness" or swelling. Such fullness may be palpated (felt) by the physician during physical examination. Lymph node enlargement may or may not be apparent, although imaging studies should be able to confirm any lymphatic disease.
Leukemia that has spread to the brain may produce central nervous system effects, such as headaches, seizures, weakness, blurred vision, balance difficulties, or vomiting.
Certain forms of leukemia produce more distinct symptoms. For example, acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), particularly the M5 monocytic form, may generate tell-tale symptoms such as:
swollen, painful, and bleeding gums - if AML has spread to the oral tissue;
pigmented (colored) rash-like spots - if AML has spread to the skin; or
chloromas (granulocytic sarcomas; collections of tumorous cells within the skin or other body parts) - if AML has
spread to the skin or other organs.
The T-cell variety of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) may cause the thymus to enlarge and press on the trachea (windpipe). Such pressure may lead to:
shortness of breath,
coughing, or
suffocation.
If the overgrown thymus presses upon the superior vena cava (SVC), the large vein that carries blood from the head and arms back to the heart, this may produce SVC syndrome (swelling of the head and arms). SVC involvement of the brain can be fatal.
Answer by Rae
My 10 mo. old had a big belly and cute double chin. He looked healthy. The big belly was from a swollen liver and spleen and the double chin was swollen lymph nodes. He was very pale,napped a lot and sweat enough to soak his pillow every night. He had a rare leukemia. Only 25 cases in U.S. that year. He had a bone marrow transplant and is now 12!
Answer by MC Grammar
My sister died aged 15 from sepsis related to Leukemia. She had been very ill generally before diagnosis-tired and breathless, although no bruising. She had also lost a lot of weight.
If in doubt, DEMAND a blood-count from your doctor for your child. If not, they will fob you off and it may take weeks to find out.
Answer by Jall
There are lots of different types of leukemia. My brothers 2 year old was diagnosed with high risk pre b A.L.L. - Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia which occurs quickly - not over months or years. Her symptoms over the month leading up to it were tiredness when you wouldn't expect it - she was playing outside after nap with friends and just stopped and sat in her mom's lap and said she was tired. She whimpered in her sleep a couple nights and her parents just didn't feel things were right. Then she had a limp one day because her leg hurt. The next day she would cry when her mom laid her down to change her diaper and pointed at he rib saying it hurt. It took a couple trips to the doctor for them to get it diagnosed.
It was very surreal - one week my daugter is playing in the backyard with her cousin and the next week her cousin is in the hospital starting chemo - just like that.
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