Children with ALL often experience the following symptoms or signs. Sometimes, children with ALL do not show any of these symptoms. Or, these symptoms may be caused by a medical condition that is not cancer. The early signs of ALL can look very much like the flu or other common illnesses. When one or more of these symptoms lasts for longer than one would expect, or you are worried about a symptom or sign on this list, please talk with your child’s doctor.

• Frequent infections
• A fever that doesn’t go away
• Feeling weak and tired all the time
• Bone pain
• Swollen lymph nodes (in the neck, under the arms, and groin, for example)
• Paleness
• Bruising or bleeding easily
• Difficulty breathing
• Headache
• Enlarged liver or spleen during a physical examination.

Your child’s doctor will ask you questions about the symptoms your child is having to help find out the cause of the problem, called a diagnosis. This may include how long your child has been having the symptom(s) and how often.

If cancer is diagnosed, relieving symptoms and side effects remains an important part of care and treatment. This may also be called symptom management, palliative care, or supportive care. Be sure to talk with your child’s health care team about symptoms your child has, including any new symptoms or a change in symptoms.