Does anyone know about leukaemia ?

[Lovepancakes]

I hope no one minds me asking as I am so worried suddenly.

I joined a thread recently about bruising which DS has had for some time that has surprised me- small bruises in odd places on his back for example and his legs are always covered though he jumps around constantly. He once had such an angry bruise on his chest I took him to the GP as was completely sure he hasn't hurt himself there (he's 3 &with me full time).

Over the last few weeks his appetite has changed- used to eat everything and eat like a horse and he's gone off nearly everything he liked & tonight he simply said he feels sick every day. He still looks good weight-wise as his tummy big.

He also has joint pain in his knees which has had for months and when I stressed this to the GP (not the being sick bit as he's only started saying that for last 3 days) he said to come back in 3 months if not better- but he's already had it longer than that and i explained it stops him running (GP suggested calpol).

Am I right to be worried as suddenly from wondering what's going on I feel very worried this isn't normal? Would you return to the GP?

Thank you so much if anyone can advise

[justaweeone]

Take him back again x

[NurNochKurzDieWeltRetten]

I don't know about leukemia thankfully but I do think you need to go back to the GP about those symptoms. I imagine there could be a wide range of causes, but it sounds like time to get him checked out and push for a second opinion/ blood tests if you are just told to wait another 3 months...

Write everything down before the apt so you don't forget anything under pressure.

[Lovepancakes]

Thank you. The individual things have been worrying me quietly but I'd mentioned them to the GP as they arose and it was only when I heard here that growing pains don't happen at 3 that I started to wonder. Thank you for your replies as helpful to know I'm not being over anxious if I go back again. I love DS more than possible (he always uses this phrase about me and says I'm attached to his heart!) and it's so easy to worry

[shits1]

My dd 11 has had two different types of leukaemia since she was 5. She was a perfectly healthy child before that and never in my wildest nightmares would I have imagined that she would ever get cancer. Her symptoms for the first leukaemia were: fever on and off for a month which did not go away despite finishing bottles and bottles of medication, leg pains, night sweats, paleness (which turned out to be anaemia), tiredness, she took naps in the afternoon (which was totally unlike her at all, she never napped ever since she was a baby) and swollen lymph node glands behind her ears. I took her to the doctor many times for the fever and swollen glands and each time he just gave paracetamol and said it was nothing. In the end, we took her to see a different doctor, and he ordered blood tests immediately and confirmed it was leukaemia. The second time, she had slightly different symptoms: bleeding gums, and leg pain (she also sprained her ankle just playing xbox or wii indoors)...
I am not saying your child has it, but I would suggest you ask for a blood test just to rule it out. I am sure your test will be fine...please do update us x

[nikki1978]

Well it could be nothing but it is worth getting blood tests since you are concerned. DS gets leg pains at 8 so what you have heard isn't true. My daughter is always saying she feels sick but generally that is down to being a bit of an anxious child. And she is always covered in bruises - some people just bruise more easily.

[shits1]

I forgot to mention that dd also had a big tummy before she fell ill the first time. One of the symptoms is that they have an enlarged spleen and liver.

[Twunk]

My DS has ALL (4 weeks until the end of treatment!!)

His symptoms were

5 fevers in 6 weeks
Anaemia
Leg pain and arm pain so bad it would wake him. He eventually stopped walking.
Loss of appetite and weight loss

Another poster on here I know her son only had a pin prick rash - no other symptoms at all.

You should take him for a blood test, just to rule it out. When Alex was diagnosed the blood testing machines missed the leukocytes so he was misdiagnosed - BUT they were looking at quite a large number of causes of his symptoms.

[Lovepancakes]

I'm so sorry for those of you who know about leukaemia and thank you so much for your helpful replies. DS hasn't had any fever and is very bouncy but he's complaining more and more of feeling sick. I've never seen pin prick bruises but he gets odd small ones on his torso and his legs are always covered.

I do hope your children are doing well and will certainly keep you posted; DH thinks DS is fine but understands my concern

[Twunk]

Yes we had been to the doctors 4 times (and the hospital twice!) before he was diagnosed - to put that into context he had not been to a Dr for 3 and a half years! I'm not a worrier. He'd had blood tests but the blasts didn't show up - and even when 40% of his blood was blasts the testing machine missed them! He was diagnosed after they were sent to an expert for checking.

Treatment in the Netherlands is two years for both sexes. Thankfully! We were also lucky that his reaction to treatment was as good as it could be so he was on the lowest possible treatment.

[Twunk]

So it doesn't feel like over three years because it wasn't!

[Twunk]

Even the shitty-ness of the last 23 months has gone like a flash!

When he was dx I wanted a time machine because I needed to know he was going to be ok. I sort of have because it has gone so fast. And we have had some very precious times that I wouldn't have wanted to miss.

[Twunk]

Yes. All of us really. Alex and I always had a close bond but I have such lovely memories of such banal stuff - standing in bathrooms with him on the loo and us chatting, or snuggled up in a bed together, or finally making it to to the rooftop playground and riding round on the little bikes

[JemIsMyNameNooneElseIsTheSame]

My little brother had leukaemia. He was 4 and my Mum took him to the doctors as she knew he wasn't right. The doctor just dismissed he and said it was nothing. She has to go back twice and insisted on seeing another doctor before it was diagnosed. She didn't think it was leukaemia, but she knew her own child. The doctor had to call many months later and apologise. So please go back and see another doctor just in case.

[JemIsMyNameNooneElseIsTheSame]

Forgot to say he was 23 yesterday and is 6 foot tall and a burly mechanic

[Twunk]

Lovely to hear Jem

[Lovepancakes]

I'm so glad to hear that too Jem. And it's helping me at the moment that treatment can go so well as I'm up late as DS now has a fever and waking and feeling worried.

I'm nervous about GP above all as worried about DS &also get the sense he thinks I'm over anxious and will be dismissive.

Dd had a rare illness once (fine now) and I guessed before the doctor at our last practice but had to keep suggesting it gently as I'm not the professional and it must be annoying when parents think they know more- she thought it unlikely but I was proved right that time and hope I'm not this one.

[Lovepancakes]

I meant I'm feeling worried, not DS. He's happy as ever apart from mentioning the feeling sick a lot which is clearly bothering him