Kidney cancer in children: what signs should parents not ignore?

However, many of the early symptoms of kidney cancer are often vague and easily confused with common health problems such as urinary tract infections, abdominal pain or weight loss. Therefore, early recognition of subtle signs and taking children to see a doctor is extremely important, according to the health website Verywell Health (USA).

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Wilms tumor is the most common form of kidney cancer in children, accounting for about 90% of cases. Parents should not be subjective if their children show the following symptoms:

Blood in urine

In children, blood in the urine is often mistaken for a urinary tract infection, especially when it is not accompanied by fever or pain when urinating.

In fact, blood in the urine is a symptom in about 25% of children with Wilms tumor. The urine may turn pink, red, or the color of tea or cola. Even if it only appears once, this symptom should not be ignored. Parents should take their children for a thorough examination with an ultrasound or urinalysis to rule out underlying diseases.

Abnormally high blood pressure

One symptom that many people don’t think about but can be an important sign of kidney cancer in children is high blood pressure. The kidneys play a major role in regulating blood pressure. When a tumor compresses the kidneys or causes structural damage, blood pressure can rise abnormally high.

Unusual lump or swelling in the abdomen

The most common and characteristic sign of kidney cancer in children is a mass in the abdomen. This mass is usually painless. Parents may accidentally discover the swelling when changing their child's clothes or when the child complains of abdominal discomfort.

The American Cancer Society says that more than 80 percent of children with Wilms' tumor are diagnosed by a warning sign of a hard mass in the abdomen. The tumor can grow rapidly and take up a large portion of the abdomen, but it is often painless in the early stages. This makes many parents complacent. In some cases, the child may feel full or have a poor appetite.

Weight loss, fatigue, loss of appetite

Another easily overlooked sign is unexplained weight loss, constant fatigue, and poor appetite. If this condition persists for several weeks without improvement, the cause could be an underlying condition, including kidney cancer, according to Verywell Health .