LEUKEMIA-WHITE BLOOD ABNORMALITIES
Hello readers,
Today I am with second most leading cause of death after cardiovascular disease.
LEUKEMIA
OR
BLOOD CANCER
In 2015, 2.3 million people was present with leukemia,caused 353,500 deaths.
It is most common in children ,age 2 to 9 years.
As per data, in US ,in 2019 every minute 3 new cases of leukemia is registered and every minute one dies due to blood cancer.
In India, one million cases per year are registered.
First let see what cancer is.....
A disease in which abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and destroy body tissue which are normal.
Now, blood cancer is cancer of blood forming tissues including bone marrow.
TYPES OF LEUKEMIA
Acute Lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
Acute Lymphoblastic leukemia-It is most common type of cancer which occurs in children under 5 years.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia-Most common in adults over age of 55.
Acute myeloid leukemia-It is common in adults than children but overall it's a rare cancer.
In this blog,I would like to focus rather than discuss about leukemia in children.
LEUKEMIA IN CHILDREN
In children, the WBC are produced, which are not mature.
This leads to various infections in children, body cannot fight due to immature WBC.
They also get anaemic because decrease in RBC count.These happens because cancer cells crowd bone marrow. These leads to decrease in production of RBC.
Causes of leukemia
Doctors don't know exactly cause of leukemia.Kids are prone to develop leukemia if they.....
* An identical twin,one have blood cancer another is prone to develop.
* The sibling who has cancer another one is prone to it.
* Had a radiation therapy or chemotherapy for other type of cancer
* Immunosuppressants medications after organ transplant can lead to blood cancer
* Genetic problems like down syndrome, that child is prone to have blood cancer
Symptoms of leukemia in children
-Kids with anaemia
*Looks pale
* Feeling tired, weak, shortness of breath
* Bruise and very heavy bleeding from nose or skin
* Bleed for longer time even after minor cut
Other symptoms
* Pain in joints or bones ,sometimes limp
* Swollen lymph nodes
* Poor appetite or less of appetite
* Unexplainable weight loss
* Belly pain
* Fever with infections
Sometimes cancer is metastasized that it can be spread to brain and spinal cord causes symptoms...
* Headaches
* Seizures
* Balance or vision problems
If it spreads to lymph nodes in chest causes chest pain or breathing problems.
DIAGNOSIS of leukemia
- Medical and family history is first step of diagnosis
- Physical examination is also part of diagnosis, which include examination of enlarged lymph nodes, brushing, breathing pattern, nervous system examination, signs of enlarged spleen and liver, bleeding.
- Pediatrician recommended to Pediatric oncologist
* BLOOD TESTS- Blood samples is taken from vein of arm , but in infants and young children blood sample is taken from veins of scalp and feet.
-CBC is helpful for diagnosis of blood cancer
* BLOOD SMEAR EXAMINATION- Type of abnormal cells are examine , doctor examine type of leukemia.
* BONE MARROW ASPIRATION AND BIOPSY- It is done by giving child local anesthesia. Medicine is given to make child drowsy during various test.
For test a thin needle is inserted into bone and syringe is used to suck out a small amount of liquid bone marrow. The bone is sent to lab for BIOPSY.
The test is repeated to find out if cancer is responding the treatment.
* SPINAL TAP ( LUMBAR PUNCTURE)- It is done to check if leukemia cells spread to CSF.
If cancer is already diagnosed lumbar puncture is done to give chemotherapy known as intrathecal therapy if cancer is spread to csf.
* IMAGING TEST including chest x ray to see enlarged lymph nodes.
* CT SCANS for examination of liver and spleen.
TREATMENT
Child leukemia is treated by team of medical team including pediatric oncologist, Assistant doctors, physician, psychologist, social worker, rehabilitation team,nursing staff, Dietitian.
TREATMENT OPTIONS
* Surgery
* Radiation therapy
* High dose of chemotherapy and stem cell or bone marrow transplant
* Immunotherapy
SURGERY- It is not generally part of leukemia treatment. It has very limited role in it.In bone marrow or lymph nodes biopsy surgery is needed.
But, for placing CVC (central venous catheter) often before chemotherapy surgery is needed. CVC is placed into large blood vessel.The end of tube stays just under skin or sticks out in chest area or upper arm.
It can be left for months to give drugs for chemotherapy or for taking blood samples.
RADIATION THERAPY- High energy radiation is given to kill cancer cells.But with it chemotherapy is often used.
Radiation to whole body is often an important part of treatment before stem cell transplant.
Possible side effects
* Sunburn like skin changes
* Hair loss in treated area
* Fatigue
* Immunosuppresson
CHEMOTHERAPY- Most important treatment which has highest success rate.
The drugs are transmitted through IV ,in CSF i.e.,intrathecal treatment as discuss earlier, or drugs taken through mouth.
When anti cancer drugs are administered through IV whole body gets benefits of drugs except CSF.For CSF intrathecal treatment is used.
Doctors give chemotherapy in cycles. After every cycle doctor give time to body for recovering from earlier chemo session.
Usually time chemotherapy is 2 to 3 years depending on PROGNOSIS and cancer severity.
DRUGS USED IN CHEMOTHERAPY
-Vincristine
- Daunorubucin
- Doxorubicin
- Methotrexate
- Cyclophosphamide
- Corticosteroids like dexamethasone, or hydrocortisone
- Etopside
SIDE EFFECTS OF CHEMOTHERAPY
Chemo drugs affects normal cells of body too.It also decrease WBC,RBC, and PLATELETS counts, which are normal.
- Hair loss
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea or vomiting
- Mouths sores
- Diarrhea
- Increase risk of infection
- Brushing and bleeding
- Fatigue
- Neuropathy- tingling and numbness
- Risk of blood clots formation increases
When PROGNOSIS gets better bone marrow recover newer cells too.
IMMUNOTHERAPY
Immunotherapy is use of medicine to help a patient's own immune system recognize and destroy cancer cells.
In this immune cells, called T cells are removed from child blood and genetically altered in lab to have specific receptors. The Tcells which are modified are administered in body in which they gets multiply and attack the cancer cells.
HIGH DOSE CHEMOTHERAPY AND STEM CELL TRANSPLANT OR BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT
It is sometimes used in childhood leukemia.
In this high dose of chemotherapy is given which can lead life threatening infection, destroy the cancer cells and then bone marrow transplant is done.
The stem cells can be from child's umbilical cord of they are stored. If not stored than allogeneic transplant is done, that is bone marrow is taken from another person who has 99.9% of HLA matching of compatibility.
DOCTORS USED THE TREATMENT OPTION WHICH SUITS BEST FOR CHILD. HE MAY COMBINE VARIOUS OPTIONS TOO.
APART FROM TREATMENT OPTION I WOULD LIKE GIVE RAY ON MOST IMPORTANT PART TREATMENT OR MOST IMPORTANT PART FROM WHICH CHILD CAN COPE UP WITH CANCER AND ITS TREATMENT SIDE EFFECTS.
NUTRITION
A Dietitian is most important part of medical team which treat a cancer patient.
As anorexia or loss of appetite is side effects of any mode of treatment, Dietitian will help child and parents to maintain balance diet which is helpful in treatment.
Nutrition therapy is used to help cancer patients keep a healthy body weight, maintaining strength, to keep body tissue healthy, decrease the side effects of treatment during and after it.
Eating healthy well balanced diet including carbs,proteins, vitamins, minerals is most important to prevent malnutrition and to develop good immune system which can prevent chi8from life threatening infections.
All Indian spices are rich all nutrients should introduce in child food.
THERE IS FACT FOOD HEALS EVERYTHING IF IT IS BALANCED.
Cancer is life threatening condition but with cooperation of good medical team and cooperation from child and parents it can cured.
Stay healthy.......Stay CONNECTED......
Today I am with second most leading cause of death after cardiovascular disease.
LEUKEMIA
OR
BLOOD CANCER
In 2015, 2.3 million people was present with leukemia,caused 353,500 deaths.
It is most common in children ,age 2 to 9 years.
As per data, in US ,in 2019 every minute 3 new cases of leukemia is registered and every minute one dies due to blood cancer.
In India, one million cases per year are registered.
First let see what cancer is.....
A disease in which abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and destroy body tissue which are normal.
Now, blood cancer is cancer of blood forming tissues including bone marrow.
TYPES OF LEUKEMIA
Acute Lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
Acute Lymphoblastic leukemia-It is most common type of cancer which occurs in children under 5 years.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia-Most common in adults over age of 55.
Acute myeloid leukemia-It is common in adults than children but overall it's a rare cancer.
In this blog,I would like to focus rather than discuss about leukemia in children.
LEUKEMIA IN CHILDREN
In children, the WBC are produced, which are not mature.
This leads to various infections in children, body cannot fight due to immature WBC.
They also get anaemic because decrease in RBC count.These happens because cancer cells crowd bone marrow. These leads to decrease in production of RBC.
Causes of leukemia
Doctors don't know exactly cause of leukemia.Kids are prone to develop leukemia if they.....
* An identical twin,one have blood cancer another is prone to develop.
* The sibling who has cancer another one is prone to it.
* Had a radiation therapy or chemotherapy for other type of cancer
* Immunosuppressants medications after organ transplant can lead to blood cancer
* Genetic problems like down syndrome, that child is prone to have blood cancer
Symptoms of leukemia in children
-Kids with anaemia
*Looks pale
* Feeling tired, weak, shortness of breath
* Bruise and very heavy bleeding from nose or skin
* Bleed for longer time even after minor cut
Other symptoms
* Pain in joints or bones ,sometimes limp
* Swollen lymph nodes
* Poor appetite or less of appetite
* Unexplainable weight loss
* Belly pain
* Fever with infections
Sometimes cancer is metastasized that it can be spread to brain and spinal cord causes symptoms...
* Headaches
* Seizures
* Balance or vision problems
If it spreads to lymph nodes in chest causes chest pain or breathing problems.
DIAGNOSIS of leukemia
- Medical and family history is first step of diagnosis
- Physical examination is also part of diagnosis, which include examination of enlarged lymph nodes, brushing, breathing pattern, nervous system examination, signs of enlarged spleen and liver, bleeding.
- Pediatrician recommended to Pediatric oncologist
* BLOOD TESTS- Blood samples is taken from vein of arm , but in infants and young children blood sample is taken from veins of scalp and feet.
-CBC is helpful for diagnosis of blood cancer
* BLOOD SMEAR EXAMINATION- Type of abnormal cells are examine , doctor examine type of leukemia.
* BONE MARROW ASPIRATION AND BIOPSY- It is done by giving child local anesthesia. Medicine is given to make child drowsy during various test.
For test a thin needle is inserted into bone and syringe is used to suck out a small amount of liquid bone marrow. The bone is sent to lab for BIOPSY.
The test is repeated to find out if cancer is responding the treatment.
* SPINAL TAP ( LUMBAR PUNCTURE)- It is done to check if leukemia cells spread to CSF.
If cancer is already diagnosed lumbar puncture is done to give chemotherapy known as intrathecal therapy if cancer is spread to csf.
* IMAGING TEST including chest x ray to see enlarged lymph nodes.
* CT SCANS for examination of liver and spleen.
TREATMENT
Child leukemia is treated by team of medical team including pediatric oncologist, Assistant doctors, physician, psychologist, social worker, rehabilitation team,nursing staff, Dietitian.
TREATMENT OPTIONS
* Surgery
* Radiation therapy
* High dose of chemotherapy and stem cell or bone marrow transplant
* Immunotherapy
SURGERY- It is not generally part of leukemia treatment. It has very limited role in it.In bone marrow or lymph nodes biopsy surgery is needed.
But, for placing CVC (central venous catheter) often before chemotherapy surgery is needed. CVC is placed into large blood vessel.The end of tube stays just under skin or sticks out in chest area or upper arm.
It can be left for months to give drugs for chemotherapy or for taking blood samples.
RADIATION THERAPY- High energy radiation is given to kill cancer cells.But with it chemotherapy is often used.
Radiation to whole body is often an important part of treatment before stem cell transplant.
Possible side effects
* Sunburn like skin changes
* Hair loss in treated area
* Fatigue
* Immunosuppresson
CHEMOTHERAPY- Most important treatment which has highest success rate.
The drugs are transmitted through IV ,in CSF i.e.,intrathecal treatment as discuss earlier, or drugs taken through mouth.
When anti cancer drugs are administered through IV whole body gets benefits of drugs except CSF.For CSF intrathecal treatment is used.
Doctors give chemotherapy in cycles. After every cycle doctor give time to body for recovering from earlier chemo session.
Usually time chemotherapy is 2 to 3 years depending on PROGNOSIS and cancer severity.
DRUGS USED IN CHEMOTHERAPY
-Vincristine
- Daunorubucin
- Doxorubicin
- Methotrexate
- Cyclophosphamide
- Corticosteroids like dexamethasone, or hydrocortisone
- Etopside
SIDE EFFECTS OF CHEMOTHERAPY
Chemo drugs affects normal cells of body too.It also decrease WBC,RBC, and PLATELETS counts, which are normal.
- Hair loss
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea or vomiting
- Mouths sores
- Diarrhea
- Increase risk of infection
- Brushing and bleeding
- Fatigue
- Neuropathy- tingling and numbness
- Risk of blood clots formation increases
When PROGNOSIS gets better bone marrow recover newer cells too.
IMMUNOTHERAPY
Immunotherapy is use of medicine to help a patient's own immune system recognize and destroy cancer cells.
In this immune cells, called T cells are removed from child blood and genetically altered in lab to have specific receptors. The Tcells which are modified are administered in body in which they gets multiply and attack the cancer cells.
HIGH DOSE CHEMOTHERAPY AND STEM CELL TRANSPLANT OR BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT
It is sometimes used in childhood leukemia.
In this high dose of chemotherapy is given which can lead life threatening infection, destroy the cancer cells and then bone marrow transplant is done.
The stem cells can be from child's umbilical cord of they are stored. If not stored than allogeneic transplant is done, that is bone marrow is taken from another person who has 99.9% of HLA matching of compatibility.
DOCTORS USED THE TREATMENT OPTION WHICH SUITS BEST FOR CHILD. HE MAY COMBINE VARIOUS OPTIONS TOO.
APART FROM TREATMENT OPTION I WOULD LIKE GIVE RAY ON MOST IMPORTANT PART TREATMENT OR MOST IMPORTANT PART FROM WHICH CHILD CAN COPE UP WITH CANCER AND ITS TREATMENT SIDE EFFECTS.
NUTRITION
A Dietitian is most important part of medical team which treat a cancer patient.
As anorexia or loss of appetite is side effects of any mode of treatment, Dietitian will help child and parents to maintain balance diet which is helpful in treatment.
Nutrition therapy is used to help cancer patients keep a healthy body weight, maintaining strength, to keep body tissue healthy, decrease the side effects of treatment during and after it.
Eating healthy well balanced diet including carbs,proteins, vitamins, minerals is most important to prevent malnutrition and to develop good immune system which can prevent chi8from life threatening infections.
All Indian spices are rich all nutrients should introduce in child food.
THERE IS FACT FOOD HEALS EVERYTHING IF IT IS BALANCED.
Cancer is life threatening condition but with cooperation of good medical team and cooperation from child and parents it can cured.
Stay healthy.......Stay CONNECTED......
Comments
Post a Comment