Leukemia Leukemia

By: Anna G. Yasmine S. Reyna By: Anna G. Yasmine S. Reyna L.L.

What type of cancer?What type of cancer?

• Leukemia is a type of cancer of the Leukemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow. It prevents blood or bone marrow. It prevents the normal production of red and the normal production of red and white blood cells, which causes white blood cells, which causes anemia. anemia.

What is a cancerous cell?What is a cancerous cell?

• When a cell is cancerous, its growth When a cell is cancerous, its growth is uncontrolled. These cells do not is uncontrolled. These cells do not function as part of the body. The function as part of the body. The cells take up space and interfere with cells take up space and interfere with normal bodily functions. The cells normal bodily functions. The cells travel throughout the body. The cells travel throughout the body. The cells can produce tumors and abnormal can produce tumors and abnormal growth anywhere in the body. growth anywhere in the body.

How does cancer spread so How does cancer spread so quickly?quickly?

• Cancer cells spread quickly by Cancer cells spread quickly by multiplying themselves. They spread multiplying themselves. They spread and the multiplied cancer cells create and the multiplied cancer cells create a sore spot.a sore spot.

SymptomsSymptoms

• The symptoms of Leukemia are that first, it makes The symptoms of Leukemia are that first, it makes the person anemic, which is having low numbers the person anemic, which is having low numbers of red blood cells and bleeding problems. If a child of red blood cells and bleeding problems. If a child gets Leukemia, they can experience fevers and gets Leukemia, they can experience fevers and infections. With anemia, the person looks pale and infections. With anemia, the person looks pale and can become tired and have shortness of breath can become tired and have shortness of breath while running or playing. Also, there can be pain while running or playing. Also, there can be pain in the bones or joints, which causes a limp, or in the bones or joints, which causes a limp, or swollen glands in the neck, groin, or elsewhere. swollen glands in the neck, groin, or elsewhere. Symptoms also include being abnormally tired Symptoms also include being abnormally tired and having a poor appetite.and having a poor appetite.

Treatments Treatments

• The treatments that are currently The treatments that are currently available for Leukemia are available for Leukemia are intrathecal chemotherapy and close intrathecal chemotherapy and close monitoring by an oncologist. monitoring by an oncologist.

FactsFacts

• Leukemia can be classified into two types: Acute, which Leukemia can be classified into two types: Acute, which rapidly develops and Chronic, which slowly develops. rapidly develops and Chronic, which slowly develops.

• Childhood Leukemia is divided into Acute Lymphocytic Childhood Leukemia is divided into Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) and Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)Leukemia (ALL) and Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)

• 60% of all children with Leukemia have ALL. 38% of all 60% of all children with Leukemia have ALL. 38% of all children with Leukemia have AML. children with Leukemia have AML.

• Children have a 20 -25% chance to catch ALL or AML. The Children have a 20 -25% chance to catch ALL or AML. The ALL form of disease commonly occurs in younger children ALL form of disease commonly occurs in younger children of ages 2-8.of ages 2-8.

FactsFacts

• During a bone marrow transplant healthy bone marrow is During a bone marrow transplant healthy bone marrow is introduced into a child’s body.introduced into a child’s body.

• Children who have inherited certain genetic problems have Children who have inherited certain genetic problems have a higher risk of developing Leukemia.a higher risk of developing Leukemia.

• The windpipe could be enlarged if Acute Lymphocytic The windpipe could be enlarged if Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia spreads to the lymph nodes inside the chest.Leukemia spreads to the lymph nodes inside the chest.

• If the ALL spreads to the chest it could cause trouble If the ALL spreads to the chest it could cause trouble breathing and light headaches.breathing and light headaches.

ReferencesReferences

• Life science book pages 668 to 671.Life science book pages 668 to 671.

• Wikipedia-leukemiaWikipedia-leukemia

• Kidshealth.org – Leukemia Kidshealth.org – Leukemia