Leukemia is a malignant neoplastic disease. It is true that leukemia is a malignant neoplastic disease with an incidence rate of about 3 per 100,000, i.e. about 15,000 children develop acute leukemia each year, 75% of whom are children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. before the 1970s leukemia was almost incurable, and whoever suffered from leukemia was sentenced to death. With the development of science and technology, research on leukemia has become more and more advanced, and many new chemotherapeutic drugs have been developed, resulting in breakthroughs in the treatment of leukemia, especially in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, where more than 80% of children can be cured.
Leukemia, commonly known as blood cancer, is a disease caused by cancer in the leukocyte system of the bone marrow, the blood-forming factory of our body. The bone marrow produces three major types of cells: red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. These cells are released into the peripheral bloodstream to perform their appropriate functions after the bone marrow has developed from infantile cells to mature cells. Erythrocytes give the blood its red color and perform the task of transporting oxygen. White blood cells are the defenders of our organism against foreign bacteria, viruses and other enemies; platelets are like adhesives that instantly fill in when there is a break in the blood vessels, so platelets have the function of preventing bleeding. Leukemia occurs when there is a disorder in the development of the leukocyte system, i.e., when a large number of infantile cells fail to develop into mature cells. The leukemia cells are like weeds in a rice paddy, with a strong growth capacity that can take over the entire bone marrow, preventing the normal red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets from growing, which can lead to weakness, infection, bleeding and other discomfort.
Leukemia is completely curable. Of course, the treatment of leukemia is not as simple as treating a cold, and the treatment of leukemia can take a long time, 2 to 3 years. In fact, our children are so strong that they have undergone dozens of bone marrow punctures, venipunctures and spinal cavity punctures (commonly known as lumbar punctures) during their 2 to 3 years of treatment, from their initial crying refusal to their later positive cooperation, to the tearful admiration of our medical staff. And then there are the equally strong and loving parents who are the strong backing and guarantee for the treatment of leukemia. So as long as we doctors, parents and children work together and cooperate with each other, we will be able to overcome all kinds of difficulties and allow children with leukemia to recover.
The research and treatment of childhood leukemia is of great importance and concern to our country and countries all over the world, because tumor diseases have now become the main enemy threatening the health of children, and childhood leukemia is the number one enemy with the highest incidence and most lethal among tumor diseases. On June 1, 1999, Beijing Children’s Hospital officially established the Children’s Hematology Center, which currently has 120 beds in four wards and treats nearly 200 new cases of children with leukemia each year. The cure rate of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children has reached about 80% in the past 15 years. On June 1 of this year, the foundation stone of the Children’s Hematology Oncology Center, which was personally cared for and approved by Premier Wen, has been laid and will be the world’s largest 360-bed pediatric oncology research center in a few years. At the same time, the Hematology Center not only pays attention to the treatment of physical diseases of children, but also pays more attention to the intervention of psychological and social factors of children.