Medulloblastoma - Childhood

Children with medulloblastoma may experience the following symptoms or signs. Sometimes, children with medulloblastoma do not show any of these symptoms. Or, these symptoms may be caused by a medical condition that is not a tumor. If you are concerned about a symptom or sign on this list, please talk with your child's doctor.

• Headaches
• Morning vomiting that gets worse over time
• Clumsiness
• Problems with handwriting and other motor skills that get worse over time
• Problems with vision or an eye turning inwards

If the tumor spreads to the spinal cord, it may cause the following symptoms:

• Back pain
• Inability to control the bowels and bladder
• Difficulty walking

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

If a tumor 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 experiences, including any new symptoms or a change in symptoms.