In recent years, news about leukemia has been in the press repeatedly, making us feel more and more that leukemia is not far away from us. So, what causes leukemia? Is it really incurable?
Why do you get leukemia?
Chemical toxins, electromagnetic radiation, air pollution, drugs, biological factors, genetic factors, etc. are all possible factors that cause leukemia, of which air pollution and ionizing radiation (x and gamma rays) caused by indoor decoration is the most important cause, indoor decoration pollutants in benzene and formaldehyde and the onset of leukemia is a certain possible correlation, especially for children more dangerous. Of course, in addition to these external environmental factors, the occurrence of leukemia is mainly genetically related to the individual, and only a very small number of people develop leukemia when they are in the same polluted environment.
Routine blood tests Abnormally elevated white blood cells and low platelets Routine blood tests are often the first step in detecting leukemia, and blood tests in leukemia patients generally indicate abnormalities, with significantly elevated white blood cells being the most suggestive. Director Li Yuhua said that elevated white blood cells are mostly seen in infections, but if the value exceeds 30×109/L-50×109/L, leukemia is highly suspected and requires further examination. In addition, leukemia patients may have various degrees of anemia and low platelets in their blood count.
Clinical manifestations Unexplained gum and subcutaneous bleeding, enlarged lymph nodes, bone pain, etc. Acute leukemia usually starts rapidly, progresses rapidly, and has obvious symptoms. Clinically, it is common to have recurrent fever, similar to the “flu”, dizziness, fatigue, loss of energy, unexplained bleeding from the gums, nasal bleeding, subcutaneous bleeding, or increased menstrual flow. In some children, the onset of the disease is only recurrent fever and bone pain in the lower extremities, with poor mental health and reluctance to walk. Chronic leukemia starts insidiously and progresses slowly, and there may be no uncomfortable symptoms in the early stage, and the earliest conscious symptoms that patients have are not typical, such as weakness, excessive sweating, abdominal distension, etc. Many patients find abnormalities only when they have a routine blood test.
The cure rate is more than half Many people believe that leukemia is incurable and that having leukemia is the same as having a terminal illness. Li Yuhua said, in fact, not, leukemia is a curable blood tumor, through conventional chemotherapy, targeted therapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, more than half of patients can obtain long-term survival. The technique of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (commonly known as “bone marrow transplantation”) has advanced by leaps and bounds in the last decade or so. In recent years, the Department of Hematology at Pearl River Hospital has performed nearly 100 transplant cases each year, many of them through transplantation of blood stem cells from siblings, parents, children or unrelated blood donors. Of course, there are some patients who will fail transplantation due to infection, relapse, post-transplant rejection and other factors. In the case of chronic myeloid leukemia, patients can achieve the same ideal outcome with standardized targeted therapy.
With children at home, how to reduce the risk of leukemia Leukemia ranks first in the mortality rate due to childhood malignancies, therefore, it is especially important to reduce the risk of inducing leukemia. First of all, we should reduce home decoration pollution, choose green decoration materials, and avoid children to move in within six months after the end of decoration and ventilation. Avoid children’s exposure to newly renovated houses, new furniture, new cars and other items containing formaldehyde, benzene exceeds the standard. Secondly, take children to parks and green areas with clean air to do outdoor sports to enhance physical fitness and immunity. Children in rural areas should avoid exposure to pesticides, fertilizers and other toxic substances.