By Munyaradzi Blessing Doma

Parents and caregivers have been urged to pay close attention to unusual changes in their children’s health and seek medical attention early, as childhood cancer can be treated more effectively when detected promptly.

Speaking at the Harare Agricultural Show, KidsCan Zimbabwe Health and Awareness Coordinator Sister Charity Kawadza said parents should not ignore symptoms that persist or appear unusual for a child.

“Parents out there, examine your child, listen to your child, then take action,” Kawadza said.

She said parents sometimes delayed seeking medical attention for children, potentially reducing their chances of receiving timely treatment.

“I think in most cases parents tend to take longer for children than they do for themselves. So if they can do it earlier, then we can save a life,” she said.

Kawadza said common childhood cancers include leukaemia, kidney cancer, eye cancer, lymphoma, brain cancer and bone cancer, with symptoms varying depending on the type of cancer.

She urged parents to seek medical attention when children develop unexplained bleeding, persistent pain, bone pain or swelling around the joints.

A lump or swelling in the abdomen could be a sign of kidney cancer, while changes in the appearance or colour of an eye should also be investigated.

Kawadza said an abnormal reflection from the eye, particularly one that resembles a “cat’s eye” in photographs or at night, could be a warning sign of eye cancer.

“When you look at the eye, it now looks glassy and when you look at it at night, it reflects back to you like a cat’s eye,” she said.

“A child who’s got an eye which is different from the normal colour, please, that should ring an alarm in you and you must go and see a doctor.”

Other signs parents should watch for include unusual lumps around the neck, ears or face, persistent headaches, vomiting, changes in vision and an unusually enlarged head, which can occur with some brain tumours.

Bone cancer can also present with persistent pain or swelling, particularly around the long bones of the arms and legs.

However, Kawadza cautioned parents against attempting to diagnose cancer at home.

“The best thing you can do, don't diagnose it at home. Take a child to the nearest clinic,” she said.

Children suspected of having cancer can be referred from local clinics to specialised health facilities, including Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare, where KidsCan Zimbabwe supports children undergoing cancer treatment.

According to Kawadza, the organisation works with the Ministry of Health and Child Care to support children with cancer and their families.

Its assistance includes chemotherapy, counselling, accommodation for families who need to remain in Harare during treatment, diagnostic investigations such as blood tests, X-rays and scans, and nutritional support.

Kawadza said the organisation had seen children survive cancer and go on to pursue careers in different fields.

“Children can survive cancer. Please go early and you can save a child's life,” she said.

She said awareness should extend beyond designated cancer-awareness periods, urging communities to discuss childhood cancer openly and challenge myths surrounding the disease.

World Cancer Day is observed on February 4, while International Childhood Cancer Day is commemorated on February 15. September is also recognised as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, represented by the gold ribbon.

Kawadza urged members of the public to support childhood cancer programmes through donations and awareness activities.

“Look after that child, observe if there's anything not quite right for a child, issues of play, issues of eating. Just be concerned about the child,” she said.

She said early action could give children a better chance of receiving treatment and surviving cancer.