Symptoms vary depending on where the cancer is but include unusual lumps, swelling, fever, diarhea, bone pain, limping paralysis, weakness or frequent infections. Treatment includes surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Survival is high when the disease is caught early but most cases are not and at most 40 percent survive. There are about 1,500 cases a year of Wilm's Tumour, the most common form of kidney tumor in children. Symptoms include a large lump in the belly, stomach pain, fever and blood in the urine.
Treatment includes surgery and chemotherapy, and sometimes radiation therapy.
Survival rates are good at 93 percent. What was once the private anguish of parents now draws increasing concern among scientists. In fits and starts, the overall childhood cancer rate increased 11 percent between 1973 and 1995 for those 18 and younger. For Mary Beasley of Fort Lauderdale such statistics tell a story she already knows too well. Her son was hospitalized more than a year ago with leukemia that nearly killed him.