What is leukemia? What are the symptoms of leukemia?
According to epidemiological statistics, the annual natural incidence of leukemia in China is 3-4/100,000 population, which means that there are about 40,000 new leukemia patients in the country every year, 40% of which are children. Zhang Wenlin, Department of Hematology, Henan Cancer Hospital
So what is leukemia? As we all know, people are born, grow old, get sick and die, and so do the cells of the human body. Leukemia is commonly referred to as immature white blood cells that do not die, but keep dividing, proliferating and growing, resulting in abnormal tumor proliferation, resulting in pale, yellow, tired, dizzy and other anemia, bleeding, infection, enlarged liver and spleen lymph nodes, bone and joint pain and other symptoms of leukemia cell infiltration in children.
Why do these symptoms occur?
The proliferating leukemia cells occupy the limited hematopoietic material and the hematopoietic capacity of the bone marrow, which leads to anemia in the child, and the child appears pale, yellow, dizzy, and weak; the platelets decrease significantly in leukemia, and the role of platelets is to stop bleeding, and the child is prone to bleeding when the platelets decrease; although the white blood cells of the child with leukemia are mostly increased, the white blood cells at this time are mostly infantile cells, which are Therefore, the child is prone to co-infection, such as repeated fever, which is not easily controlled. Leukemia cells can reach different parts of the body with the blood circulation, showing symptoms of infiltration such as enlarged liver, spleen, lymph nodes and bone and joint pain.
What discomforts of children need to visit the Department of Hematology and Oncology?
Once a child appears pale, yellow, tired and weak, nose bleeding, bleeding spots on the skin, recurrent fever, bone and joint pain, unexplained abdominal masses, enlarged liver and spleen lymph nodes, he/she should promptly visit the Department of Hematology and Oncology. Children with highly suspected leukemia can be diagnosed through routine blood, bone marrow, immunology, genetics and molecular biology examinations.
What factors can cause leukemia?
The exact cause of leukemia is still unclear, but viruses may be the main factor, in addition to genetic factors, radiation, chemical toxins or drugs.
1, viruses: tumor viruses carry viral oncogenes (v-onc), most vertebrates (including human cells) have genes homologous to v-onc called oncogenes, v-onc is integrated into the host cell gene body can cause malignant changes in neighboring genes; retrovirus infection can also cause the activation of oncogenes, which become malignant transformation of genes, resulting in malignant transformation of target cells The viral genes that enter the body, even if they do not contain v-onc, may cause leukemia if they change the normal function of the genes.
2, genetic factors: leukemia patients with a family history of leukemia accounted for 8.1%, the incidence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the inbred population is 30 times higher than expected, leukemia monozygotic twins have a 25% higher chance of developing the disease than the normal population, indicating that genetic factors and the development of certain leukemias are related. However, it should be clear that leukemia is not a hereditary disease and will not be directly inherited to the next generation.
3, radiation factors: ionizing radiation has a leukemogenic effect, its effect with the radiation dose size and radiation site, a larger dose or multiple small doses of exposure have leukemogenic effect. Conventional x-ray film, CT examination, etc. is safe, not to cause leukemia.
4, chemical factors: some chemical substances such as benzene, formaldehyde, radon leukemia-causing effect is more certain.
Can leukemia be treated and how should it be treated?
When people hear about leukemia, they will “talk about the tiger” and be terrified. In fact, with the development of medical science, the prognosis of childhood leukemia has been greatly improved, with early complete remission rates reaching 95% and 5-year disease-free survival rates (cure rates) reaching 70%-80%. How effective the treatment is is closely related to whether the diagnosis and treatment are standardized. The principles of treatment for childhood leukemia: early, continuous moderate chemotherapy and phased long-term standardized treatment. The treatment procedures are, in order, induction remission therapy, extramedullary leukemia prophylaxis, consolidation therapy, early intensive therapy, and maintenance therapy. In order for children with leukemia to obtain better long-term results after treatment and to improve long-term survival rate and quality of survival, it is recommended that children be sent to a large hospital specializing in pediatric hematology and oncology as soon as possible and as early as possible so that they can receive timely and systematic standardized chemotherapy without disordered chemotherapy.
What is the cost of childhood leukemia treatment?
There are many types of childhood leukemia, each with different clinical risks, different chemotherapy regimens and different chemotherapy drugs; during chemotherapy, due to inevitable chemotherapy complications, children suffer from bone marrow suppression, infection, anemia, bleeding and other symptoms, requiring anti-infection, blood transfusion, platelet transfusion and other treatments, so the cost varies greatly, and those with smooth treatment and good efficacy will cost less. For those who have good treatment, the cost is lower. For those who have poor treatment and need intensive chemotherapy, the cost is higher.
In the past, many poor children did not receive timely treatment because of financial problems, but now this problem has been partially solved. Since September 20, 2011, the province’s new rural cooperative medical care introduced a major disease reimbursement policy, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute early granulocytic leukemia treatment in designated hospitals can be reimbursed 90% of hospital costs. For example, Zhengzhou Charity Federation and Zhengzhou Blessing Real Estate Development Co., Ltd. have set up the “Blessing Children’s Hematology Rehabilitation Fund” in our hospital, with an annual injection of 1 million yuan to support children with leukemia in our hospital in the province. The Red Cross Society of China has set up the “Little Angel” relief fund, which, to a certain extent, alleviates the financial difficulties of the families of children with leukemia and increases the hope for their recovery.
How should children with leukemia and their parents adjust their mindset to overcome the disease?
The aim of modern pediatric oncology treatment is not only to improve the survival rate and the survival time of children, but also to improve the quality of life of children, which requires assessing the mental health condition of children and giving timely intervention.
For infants and younger children who do not know about their diseases, they should not know that they have had tumors. For older children who are aware of their disease, we should provide adequate health education and explain the general knowledge of tumor diagnosis and treatment, so that the children can understand the disease correctly, build up confidence to overcome the disease, and cooperate with the medical staff with a positive attitude and work together to control the disease.
2. Encourage children to actively participate in group activities as their physical condition and treatment process allow, and school-age children can learn while undergoing chemotherapy.
3.Family members should take the initiative, enthusiasm and optimism to infect the children, do not give excessive special care and ask too much about the children’s feelings, which can effectively avoid the children’s negative emotions such as emotional instability, aggressive behavior, capriciousness and pettiness, and difficulty in getting along with others.
4, medical staff should learn to think differently, with sincere feelings, warm attitude, appropriate language and excellent skills to answer the questions raised by children and families, so that they can feel the warmth of love, in a difficult situation can still maintain confidence and hope.
What are the dietary considerations for children with leukemia?
You should eat a diet rich in protein and vitamins. During chemotherapy, you should eat a light diet with small and frequent meals, and you can eat some fish, lean meat and eggs. During chemotherapy, the child’s appetite is not good due to drug stimulation, so parents should pay attention to the cooking skills, cooking food should be as colorful and flavorful as possible, in order to protect the child’s nutrition.
Even if a child is diagnosed with leukemia, the child and parents need not panic, neither to listen to alarmist words, nor to believe in a one-time cure prescription, to scientific treatment, early detection and early treatment, formal treatment.
Let’s work together to fight the disease!