Wilms’ Tumor – Signs & Symptoms

Wilms’ Tumor is a kind of infancy cancer that affects the kidneys – a set of kidney-bean shaped organs situated in the upper waist region, flanking both sides of the spine – that are responsible for filtering and purifying the blood and producing urine.

Wilms’ Tumor is also known as nephroblastoma , ‘nephro’ translating to kidney, ‘blast’ which means primitive cell and ‘oma’ that implies tumor. It is the fifth most prevalent form of childhood cancer that is known to affect nearly four hundred children in the United States alone that are identified with Wilms’ Tumor on an annual basis. The ailment affecting both sexes in equal proportions, could develop in any age bracket ranging from babyhood to fifteen years of age, though the tumor generally is detected by three years of age.

Usually, this condition leads to non-painful abdominal swelling and is discerned during a bath, dressing or when one changes the child’s diapers. Some infants might emit traces of blood in their urine and experience stomach pain, reduced craving for food, weariness or loss in weight.

Characteristically, it affects one kidney; however, intermittently it could develop in both kidneys. In case the cancer metastasizes, it typically spreads to the lungs and the liver. With appropriate treatment several infants could have a good likelihood of recuperation.

In case one is suspecting a tumor in the child’s abdomen, then one must bear in mind to avoid exerting pressure on this area. It is vital that such children suspected with having Wilms’ Tumor to be bathed and handled with utmost care prior to and during the duration of any tumor assessment. If inadvertently there is a rupture in the tumor, then it could metastasize to rest of the body tissues.

Wilms’ Tumor Symptoms:

Children having Wilms’ tumor might experience numerous symptoms of varied kinds. However, the below stated symptoms are the most prevalent ones observed.

• Appearance of a mass or lump in the abdominal region that does not cause tenderness.
• Pain or discomfort experienced in the abdominal region due to the pressure being exerted on those organs that are situated in close proximity to the tumor.
• Swelling observed in the abdominal region.
• Veins located across the abdominal region could appear to be swollen or larger than normal.
• Blood being emitted along with urine.
• Lowered appetite.
• Fever.
• Elevated blood pressure.
• Feeling of fatigue or exhaustion.

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