It is a misconception that the incidence of leukemia is higher in children than in adults Leukemia, commonly known as “blood cancer”, is a malignant tumor of the hematopoietic system. Leukemia is formed when human hematopoietic cells become “cancerous” under the action of carcinogenic factors, resulting in the widespread and uncontrolled proliferation of a large number of infantile cells that appear in the bone marrow and other tissues and organs and enter the bloodstream. The clinical manifestations of leukemia often include anemia, bleeding, infection, enlargement of liver, spleen and lymph nodes, and sternal pressure pain.
According to Prof. Huang Yihong, the incidence of leukemia is ranked 6th among malignant tumors and first among malignant tumor patients under 35 years old. Since children suffer from other malignant tumors less frequently, while the incidence of leukemia accounts for more than half of the incidence of all childhood malignant tumors and takes the first place, some people mistakenly believe that childhood leukemia is increasingly common. The incidence of leukemia in China is about 3-4 per 100,000 people (2.76 per 100,000 more than 10 years ago) and is on the increase. There are currently more than 4 million leukemia patients nationwide, with about 40,000 new leukemia patients each year, more than 20,000 of whom are children, and most of whom are between the ages of 2 and 9. It is noteworthy that the incidence of leukemia in urban children is climbing. The reality is that the overall incidence of childhood leukemia is now largely stable. Among children aged 0-14 years, the incidence of leukemia is 2-3/100,000, which is lower than the incidence of 5-6/100,000 in the adult group.
Can renovation pollution cause leukemia? What are the causes of leukemia? It is often reported that pollution caused by home renovation leads to an increase in children with leukemia. Can renovation cause leukemia or not?
Professor Huang said that the cause of leukemia has not yet been elucidated, such as viral infections, radiation, chemical factors, genetic factors, etc. can lead to leukemia. The following are possible triggering factors: 1, viral infections: It has been confirmed that viruses can cause human leukemia.
2, food, water and atmospheric pollution Consumption of vegetables and fruits containing chemical fertilizers and pesticides can easily destroy the normal hematopoietic function of the bone marrow and lead to the development of the disease. Water sources and atmospheric pollution should not be ignored.
3, radiation factors X-rays, radiation therapy, atomic bomb explosions, etc.. For example, within five years after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, the incidence of leukemia is one hundred times higher than in other areas.
4, drug abuse: chloramphenicol, bismorpholine, ethyleneimine, carbamazepine, alkylating agents, immunosuppressants, etc. induced leukemia has been drawn attention.
5, decoration pollution: it has been confirmed that long-term exposure to benzene and its derivatives released from the decoration materials may lead to leukemia. Granite in the decoration materials contain radioactive substances and commonly used in the decoration of adhesives, paints, floor tiles, plywood and other materials such as formaldehyde, lead, etc. may become a risk factor for the occurrence of leukemia. Therefore, it is recommended that it is best to use materials that are environmentally friendly and harmless to humans before moving in.
Many people question: why do you get sick and I don’t get sick in the same decorated environment? Professor Huang said, the host itself intrinsic factors, susceptible people, including genetic factors, chromosomal and genetic abnormalities and leukemia development relationship can not be ignored.
Do all leukemia patients need bone marrow transplants? Some people think that leukemia is a terrible disease and is incurable; others think that they must have a bone marrow transplant if they have leukemia.
Professor Huang said that with the progress of medical science and technological development, through the unremitting efforts of medical experts and careful research, a major breakthrough has been made in the treatment of leukemia, which is completely curable. Leukemia should be targeted according to typing. For childhood leukemia patients, the use of multi-drug combination chemotherapy and immunotherapy is the best way to treat the disease. After regular treatment, close to 100% of children can achieve complete remission, more than 80% of children can be cured, and children who are cured can go on to normal school, work and life. Most families can afford it, so do not give up treatment at will. For adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (acute gonorrhea), the chances of long-term survival through chemotherapy are very small, while about 30% of patients with acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia (acute non-gonorrhea) can be cured through chemotherapy. The vast majority of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia are cured with medications such as retinoic acid and arsenious acid.
Which patients need bone marrow transplantation? Experts advocate that bone marrow transplantation is necessary for those children with high-risk and relapsed acute gonorrhea, adults with acute gonorrhea and some patients with acute non-gonorrhea. Chronic granulocytic leukemia can only be cured by allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Finally, Prof. Huang also believes that it is important for patients to choose a caring, ethical, skilled and experienced hematologist, because leukemia treatment is a systemic project and a good doctor will choose a comprehensive treatment plan that fits the individual characteristics of the condition and the disease.