Getting to Know Child Leukemia. Leukemia is, in fact, a type of cancer that is very common in children. What is blood cancer and what are the symptoms? Families need to know.
Shakira Aurum, the girl singer Denada Tambunan, suffers from blood cancer or is also said to have leukemia. The little one who is 5 years old is obliged to take 1.5 months of treatment in Singapore.
The universal comment that cancer can only be felt by aged people is in fact an error. Blood cancer is a type of cancer that is very common in children. Quoted from kidshealth. org, 30% of cancer experienced by children is blood cancer or leukemia. In America, 3000 children face leukemia each year.
What is childhood leukemia?
Leukemia or white blood cancer is a condition in which the body has an excess of abnormal white blood cells. White blood cells do play a significant role in protecting the body from inflammation. However, there are conditions in which the spinal cord produces abnormal white blood cells in abnormal numbers. These white blood cells can grow and spread rapidly through the bloodstream and suppress healthy cells, increasing the risk of anemia (lack of red blood), inflammation, bleeding, and other problems.
Types of leukemia in children
Usually, leukemia is differentiated from its growth rate, it is chronic or rapid growth and chronic that grows for a long time. Children, mostly suffer from chronic leukemia. Universal chronic leukemia occurs in children aged 2-8 years.
Chronic leukemia is broken down into lymphoblastic leukemia which affects the white blood cell type lymphocytes and myeloid leukemia which affects white blood cells type myelocytes.
Indications for leukemia in children
The American Cancer Society outlines the observable indications of childhood leukemia:
Bone or joint pain: this pain is caused by the accumulation of leukemia cells near the surface of the bone or inside the joint.
Swelling of the stomach: leukemia cells can collect in the liver and spleen, causing their stomach to swell. The lower ribs generally cover these organs, but as they continue to become swollen, doctors can often feel them.
Loss of appetite and weight loss: if the spleen and liver are large enough, they can put pressure on other organs such as the stomach. This can make children feel full and run out of appetite. And there is weight loss.
Enlarged lymph nodes: some of the leukemia spreads to lymph nodes. It can be seen or experienced as a protrusion at the base of the skin in certain zones of the body (such as on the side of the neck, in the armpit zone, or in the groin). Lymph nodes in the chest or stomach can also become enlarged, but this can only be seen on a CT scan.
Cough or trouble breathing: some types of leukemia can affect the structures in the center of the chest. The thymus or swollen lymph nodes in the chest can press on the trachea, causing coughing or difficulty breathing. In some cases where the white blood cell count is very large, the leukemia cells can build up in the small blood vessels of the lungs, which can also make breathing difficult.
Swelling of the face and arms: this is known as SVC syndrome. May cause swelling of the face, neck, arms, and upper chest (sometimes with a bluish red complexion).
Headache, seizures, vomiting: some small children have leukemia that has spread to the brain and spinal cord at the time of initial presentation. This can give rise to indications such as headaches, trouble concentrating, weakness, seizures, vomiting, problems with balance, and blurred vision.
Rash, gum problems: in children with chronic myelogenous leukemia (AML), leukemia cells can spread to the gums, causing swelling, burning, and bleeding. When it spreads to the skin, it can cause small, black patches that look like a normal rash.
Extreme fatigue: the infrequent but very serious consequences of AML are extreme fatigue, weakness, and speech delays.
Leukemia Treatment in Children
Launching from webmd. com, when before cancer cure begins, sometimes a child needs treatment to overcome complications of the disease. For example, the turnover of blood cells can cause inflammation or heavy bleeding and can affect the amount of oxygen reaching the body's tissues. Treatment may link antibiotics, blood transfusions, or other actions to fight inflammation.
Treatment for children suffering from leukemia is usually chemotherapy. There is also a powerful radiation treatment to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Another option if treatment is less efficient is to implant or transplant the blood-producing stem cells. To prevent leukemia from returning, there may be maintenance treatments in cycles of 2 or 3 years.
The American Cancer Society says that blood cancer in children is a large type of cancer that is likely to be reversed and there is little risk of developing again.
Anticipation Method
Give breast milk to children for 6 months (exclusive breastfeeding) to 2 years. In line with the World Health Organization and the Indonesian Ministry of Health, breastfeeding can reduce the risk of cancer.
Thoroughly look at the child's body and provide regular care. Requesting encouragement from the pediatrician while on the immunization agenda to always check on the child's condition, whether there are bulges and things that deserve to be suspected.
Avoid children from exposure to cigarette smoke.
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