dlbcl cancer | WHAT IS ACUTE LYMPOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA (ALL)?

WHAT IS ACUTE LYMPOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA (ALL)?




ALL cancer is a type of blood cancer affecting white blood cells that are still young. The cells grown in controlled conditions in the bone marrow. These developments inhibit the production of normal blood cells. Children who have ALL susceptible to recurrent infections, anemia, easy bruising and bleeding due to their bone marrow does not produce enough red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

Are ALL common in children?

ALL_IMG1ALL is the most common cancer afflicting children. Each year, about 1 million children from 30-40 terdiagnosa ALL. And of every 3 children who suffered from cancer, 1 will have ALL.

What is the cause of ALL?

It is not known the exact cause of ALL although the study has been conducted to identify the cause of any possibility. There are some factors of risk is estimated to be the cause of a genetic defect that leads to occurrence of ALL:

Infection: a slow healing Level against infection in the child or an abnormal response of the immune system against infections estimated child can also be a cause of ALL. ALL is not contagious. Other children can not be affected by leukemia cells from other children.

Ionizing Radiation: ionizing radiation-exposed Children high doses (the energy of the resulting x-rays and other radioactive materials) before birth or at an early age have a greater risk for exposed to ALL.

Genetic factors: ALL is not a derivative of the disease, but for children with cinfenital disorder such as Down Syndrome have a higher risk to be exposed to ALL.

WHAT THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ALL?

The symptoms of ALL largely due to the lack of normal blood cells in the circulatory system. This includes the following:

Anemia caused by the low number of red blood cells.
Children are often easily fatigued and pallor.
Easy bruising and bleeding due to low levels of platelets.
Often or continuously exposed to infection because the child did not have the number of immature white blood cells to overcome the infection.
Pain in bones and joints or.
Other complaints may include membengkaknya lymph nodes, loss of appetite, loss of weight, pain in the chest, and discomfort in the stomach.

HOW DO I DIAGNOSE ALL?
A complete evaluation is needed to diagnose ALL. The process of diagnosis ALL include:

Full Blood Counts (FBC)
These tests include taking blood and sent it to the lab. Red blood cells, white blood and platelets are then counted in the examination under the microscope while looking for abnormal cells in the blood.

Bone Marrow Examination
This test is conducted to ensure the results of the diagnosis or deny ALL. This inspection can make doctors to decide the best treatment for children. This procedure involves a little bone marrow sample taken from hip bones for later tested in the laboratory. Diagnosis will be ascertained if there are leukemia cells in the bone marrow. Additional tests should be performed to ensure the type of leukemia cells detected and to forecast the final result of the treatment.

Examination Of Cerebro Spinal Fluid (CSF)
A small sample of the CSF contained around the brain and spinal cord taken using procedure Lumbar Puncture. The sample is then tested in a lab to find leukemia cells in the central nervous system. Additional treatment will be necessary when detected the presence of leukemia cells in the CSF.

Other tests
Other laboratory tests and x-rays can provide information on the various functions of the vital organs as well as your child's health condition in General. These tests can be carried out from time to time to compare the development of the child during the treatment process.

WHAT TREATMENT IS AVAILABLE?
A series of combination chemotherapy has proven to be the best treatment procedure for patients older people with ALL. Chemotherapy is applied through the mouth, by injection into the blood vessels, or directly on the CSF. Chemotherapy can also be performed concurrently with radiotherapy when needed.

Children who suffered from ALL being treated at the medical facility has 80% of contemporary levels of healing. The medical aid that is rapid and aggressive therapy are essential to the process of healing.

Apakakah bone marrow transplantation (or Stem Cells) is still required?
Transplant generally does not need to be done. However, bone transplant would be needed when the leukemia cells there have specific molecular changes, absence of changes in chemotherapy and relapse leukemia moment, both during and after treatment.

Why youngsters with ALL get Different Treatment?

The treatment of ALL is determined by the type of leukemia cells, molecules and initial response leukemia cells against chemotherapy. This is intended so that maximum healing opportunities is achieved while reducing the long-term side effects of treatment.

The leukemia cells were classified at the time of diagnosis becomes a disease of cells-B or T cells. The cells were studied to find out if they have a single loop or molecular changes at the level of DNA. Reduction cell leukemia cells in either blood or bone marrow are watched carefully the time of treatment. These steps are very important to determine the patient's prognosis of children with ALL.

What are the side effects of treatment?

Most of the side effects of the treatment are ALL derived from the chemotherapy. Chemotherapy not only kill the leukemia cells grown rapidly, but will also affect the growth of normal cells that grow rapidly, including hair cells, stomach, mouth and bone marrow.

Nausea, vomiting, mouth ulcers as well as the appearance of hair loss is common and is temporary. Steps will be taken to reduce the discomfort of those things above. Low blood cells, causing anemia and thrombocytopenia (lack of platelets in the blood) is common. Treatment through transfusion procedures are usually required in order to reduce the effects of anemia and to prevent or control bleeding resulting from the lack of number of platelets. Advice will be given in dealing with infection caused by neutropenia (lack of white blood cells).

Chemotherapy has side effects long term as can poison the heart, affect hormone function, as well as the fertility in the future. There is also a small risk to contract the second cancer later in life, particularly when patients using radiotherapy.

IS THERE A RISK FOR OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS?

ALL properties have almost no offspring and the case of more than one family member affected by ALL these are very rare. Like other cancers, ALL is not contagious and cannot be transmitted from one individual to another individual, even through touch or share food. Therefore, parents should not be burdened by the fear of transmission of relatives/kin due to ALL.

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO TO CHILDREN WITH ALL?

The old man is the biggest and most important advocates for a child with critical illness like ALL. Medical teams as well as teams of nurses are always willing to discuss with the parents to discuss the nature and trend of disease, treatment and side effects, and care of the child after the treatment process is complete. We believe every child with cancer are entitled to have an opportunity to recover physically and emotionally. The attentive parents have an important role to the success of the treatment process.

WHAT SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE?

CanHOPE, a non-profit agency is engaged in the service of counselling and support for people with cancer initiated by Parkway Cancer Centre.

As part of a holistic approach to treating cancer, CanHOPE collaborates with the medical team and members of the health professional who offers resources as well as extensive information about cancer to help patients and their families in order to take the right decisions during their journeys toward healing.