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Causes of Leukemia ...
This article takes a look at leukemia in general. While it does not concentrate as such on childhood leukemia many of the causes of adult leukemia are also present in childhood leukemia
It is important to appreciate that the cause of most types of leukemia is
unknown. Many patients do not exhibit any of the known risk factors, which
include smoking and other tobacco use, exposure to high doses of radiation
or the chemicals benzene or formaldehyde, and chemotherapy used to treat
other cancers.
Leukemia is not an inherited disease, but there may be a genetic link. Depending
on the type of leukemia, close relatives of a person with leukemia may be
up to four times as likely to develop leukemia as a person with no affected
relatives. Down syndrome and certain types of blood disorders also increase
the risk of developing the disease.
Symptoms and Diagnosis of Leukemia
As affected cells increase, they begin to crowd out normal cells and disable
them, causing symptoms such as frequent infections, poor healing of small
cuts or sores, and anemia. The leukemia cells may also collect in certain
parts of the body, causing pain and swelling.
Other common symptoms, of leukemia, include: fevers and night sweats, weakness
and fatigue, headaches, bruising of the skin and bleeding from the gums or
rectum, joint pain, swelling in the abdomen from an enlarged spleen, swollen
lymph nodes in the armpit, neck, or groin, and decreased appetite or weight
loss.
If your child has developed childhood leukemia, a personal and family medical
history will be taken, and a blood sample sent to the lab for testing. If
the child's blood tests are abnormal, a test of bone marrow cells will be
taken to confirm the diagnosis. In certain circumstances a spinal tap (lumbar
puncture) may also be ordered to determine whether leukemia cells are present
in the brain or cerebrospinal fluid.
Treatment of Leukemia
Treatment depends on the type of leukemia and the stage of progression, but
commonly includes one or more bone marrow transplants, radiation, and chemotherapy.
Our understanding and ability to treat leukemia has come a long way in recent
decades. In 1960, the 5-year survival rate for all types of leukemia was
about 14%. Now it is about 50%. The highest survival rates occur in children
suffering from ALL.
NOTE: This web site is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice. The information provided through this site should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, you should consult your health care provider