Which of the following is NOT a common sign of childhood cancer?

A change in bowel habits is not typically recognized as a common sign of childhood cancer when compared to the other options listed. Childhood cancers often manifest with a variety of symptoms that can be attributed to the disease's effects on the body, leading to signs like persistent fatigue, unexplained weight loss, and mild fever. These symptoms are often general and nonspecific, but they are more closely associated with malignancies in children due to the body’s increased demand for energy and the impact of the tumor on metabolic processes.

Persistent fatigue can stem from anemia or overall malaise associated with cancer, while unexplained weight loss might occur as the result of metabolic changes or nutritional deficiencies in the presence of a malignancy. Mild fever may indicate an underlying infection or inflammatory response that can accompany several types of cancer.

In contrast, change in bowel habits, while it can occur due to various medical conditions, is not as directly related to childhood cancers and typically does not present as a classic or common symptom in this population. Therefore, recognizing the distinction helps in developing a better understanding of the signs that warrant further evaluation for potential cancer.