Although leukemia can affect a person of any age, the greatest impact of this often fatal disease is on children, the ones most often diagnosed. Leukemia is a bone marrow cancer in which large numbers of white blood cells uncontrollably multiply and crowd out the normal blood cells which would normally fight off infections (Druker 215). Leukemia is most commonly found in children (Nunn 27). Males are 30% more likely to be diagnosed with leukemia than females. For every 100,000 high school students, fourteen will be diagnosed with cancer (Peacock 51). Leukemia can be classified two ways: as acute, or quickly spreading, or as chronic, which is leukemia that has developed over several years. There are four major types of leukemia: acute lymphatic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, chronic lymphatic leukemia, and chronic myelogenous leukemia. These types are abbreviated ALL, AML, CLL, and CML. ALL and CLL deal with the lymph nodes and AML and CML deal with the spleen (Nunn 27).
Oftentimes a child with leukemia does not suspect something so serious. This is due to the fact that the symptoms are very similar to those of less severe illnesses such as the common cold, flu, or mononucleosis. The symptoms most often seen in children include fever, bruising, loss of appetite, and swelling. Other symptoms of leukemia are anemia, or extremely low iron levels, and tiny red, rash type spots on the outer layer of the skin. Swelling that is associated with leukemia is more often than not in the spleen, liver, or lymph nodes. Some children may also experience weakness and tiredness due to leukemia (Nunn 27; Druker 215). Since the symptoms often resemble those of other sicknesses, it is common for the doctors to miss the leukemia on
the first checkup.
When looking for and diagnosing leukemia, doctors will go through a series of steps to make sure that the patient is properly diagnosed, determine what type of leukemia, where it is located, and how quickly it is spreading. The first step in the process requires that the patient be examined thoroughly for swelling in the abdomen, primarily in the spleen and liver (Panno 11). After it has been determined whether or not the patient is swollen, a blood sample is taken and then examined by a doctor for abnormalities. The blood testing will determine whether the patient is in fact infected with leukemia. If the patient does have leukemia, a bone marrow biopsy will be required. A bone marrow biopsy is a painful procedure in which a needle is inserted into the hip of the patient and a small sample of bone marrow is taken. This procedure will determine whether the patient has acute or chronic leukemia (Nunn 43). X-rays are then taken to determine the location and spread of the patient’s leukemia (Panno 11).
As with almost all diseases, leukemia patients require treatment for their illness. There are two main types of treatment available for the leukemia patients. These treatments are bone marrow transplants and chemotherapy. Since leukemia is a cancer of the blood, surgery is almost never a treatment option. Bone marrow transplants are done by giving the patient radiation to kill off all of the cells. The donated marrow is then given to the patient intravenously, through an IV. The bone marrow that is donated is classified as either autogenic, syngenic, or allogenic. Autogenic marrow is marrow that was taken from the patient before they were diagnosed with leukemia, syngenic marrow is marrow that was taken from a twin, and allogenic marrow is marrow that is taken from someone of no relation. Unfortunately though, between 50% and 70% of all bone marrow transplant patients suffer from GvHD, meaning that the marrow rejects the patient’s organs (Frederich 1012; Panno 47).
Chemotherapy is a treatment in which the patient has many options. He or she can either receive treatments daily, weekly, or monthly, and the treatments can be given either through an IV or through a pill (Panno 48). Chemo is also given in two phases. The first phase is the induction phase. During this phase, the patient is given drugs that kill off the leukemia cells. The second phase, called the consolidation phase, is given to 80% of patients to help prevent a relapse, or return of the cancer. During this phase, the patient is hospitalized to help prevent infections. Also, the patient is put in an isolated unit and requires special food handling and care (Frederich 1014).
Unfortunately for the patients, the treatments cannot be as simple as just receiving them. Along with the treatments come side effects. Some of these side effects include hair loss, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and weight loss. In both chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants, patients often lose all of their cells, even the healthy ones. This results in hair loss and weakness. Also, the treatments can cause the patient to have an upset stomach, resulting in nausea and vomiting. Many also experience excessive weight loss due to the appetite loss, nausea, and vomiting (Nunn 11).
