Leukemia in children & bull; hello healthy

Definition

What is leukemia in children?

Leukemia or white blood cell cancer is the most common type of cancer in children and adolescents. Abnormal white blood cells form in the bone marrow, spread through the bloodstream and crowd out healthy cells. This increases the body's risk of developing infections and other problems.

Although it is hard if your child has cancer, you need to know that most children and adolescents with leukemia can be successfully treated.

How common is leukemia in children?

Leukemia in children can affect children at any age. This can be overcome by reducing your risk factors. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of leukemia in children?

Common symptoms of leukemia in children are:

• fatigue or pale skin
• infection and fever
• easy bleeding or bruising
• extreme fatigue or weakness
• hard to breathe
• cough

Other symptoms can include:

• bone or joint pain
• swelling of the stomach, face, arms, armpits, sides of the neck, or groin
• swelling above the collarbone
• loss of appetite or weight loss
• headaches, seizures, balance problems, or vision disorders
• rash
• gum problems

Symptoms of leukemia often require a doctor's appointment. This is a good thing because it means the disease can be discovered earlier than the other way around. Early diagnosis can lead to more successful treatment. Many of the signs and symptoms of childhood leukemia appear when the leukemia cells crowd out normal cells.

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about certain symptoms, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

If you experience any of the signs or symptoms listed above, or have any questions, please consult your doctor. Everyone's body reacts differently. It is always best to discuss what is best for your situation with your doctor.

Cause

What causes leukemia in children?

Doctors don't know exactly what causes most cases of childhood leukemia. However, several factors can increase the risk of developing this disease. Even so, keep in mind that having risk factors does not mean a child will develop leukemia. In fact, most children with leukemia have no known factors.

Risk factors

What increases my risk for leukemia in children?

There are many risk factors for leukemia in children, such as:

• inherited disorders such as Li-Fraument's syndrome, Down syndrome, or Klinefelter's syndrome
• inherited immune system problems such as ataxia telangiectasia
• siblings of brothers or sisters with leukemia, especially identical twins
• a history of exposure to high levels of radiation, chemotherapy, or chemicals such as benzene (a solvent)
• a history of immune system suppression, such as an organ transplant

Although the risk is small, doctors recommend that children with risk factors have regular checkups to detect any problems early.

Medicines & Medicines

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How is leukemia in children diagnosed?

To detect childhood leukemia, the doctor will collect a thorough medical history and perform a physical examination. Tests will be used to diagnose childhood leukemia and classify its type.

Initial tests may include:

• a blood test to measure the number of blood cells and see how they appear
• a bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, usually taken from the pelvis to confirm a diagnosis of leukemia
• to check the spread of leukemia cells in the fluid that fills the brain and spinal cord

The pathologist will examine the cells from the blood test under a microscope. This specialist will also check the bone marrow sample for the number of blood-forming cells and fat cells.

Other tests can be done to help determine what type of leukemia your child may have. These tests will also help the doctor know how likely it is that the leukemia will respond to treatment.

Certain tests can be repeated later to see how your child responds to treatment.

What are the treatments for leukemia in children?

Before cancer treatment is started, sometimes a child needs treatment to treat complications of other diseases. For example, changes in blood cells can cause infection or heavy bleeding and can impact the amount of oxygen reaching the body's tissues. Treatment can involve antibiotics, blood transfusions, or other measures to fight the infection.

Chemotherapy is the main treatment for childhood leukemia. Your child will receive anticancer drugs to be taken by mouth, or an injection into a vein or bone marrow fluid. To prevent the leukemia from recurring, it may be that maintenance therapy can be done in cycles of two or three years.

Targeted therapy is also sometimes used for leukemia. This therapy targets specific parts of cancer cells, working in a different way than standard chemotherapy. Effective for certain types of childhood leukemia, targeted therapy often provides fewer side effects.

Other types of treatment can include radiation therapy, which uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. It can be used to help prevent or treat the spread of leukemia to other parts of the body. Surgery is rarely used to treat childhood leukemia.

If standard treatment seems ineffective, a stem cell transplant may be the best option. This involves the transplantation of stem cells after whole-body radiation combined with high-dose chemotherapy is first performed to destroy the child's bone marrow.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat leukemia in children?

Very few known causes of childhood leukemia are lifestyle or environmental related, so it is important to know that in most cases there is nothing these children or their parents can do to prevent or treat this cancer.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor to understand the best solution for you.