Childhood Leukemia: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Leukemia is a type of blood cancer that starts in the stem cells of the bone marrow. In leukemia, white bloods cells fail to mature properly. These immature cells continue to reproduce at a rapid rate, crowding out healthy cells and producing a host of symptoms (St.Judes). Bone marrow is a soft, spongy material that is inside most bones and it produces the blood cells for the body. Stem cells or immature blood cells develop into lymphoid stem cells or myeloid blood cells. It is a systemic disease which means it can go throughout the body (Leukemia). It appears that it happens in most children under the age of ten (Children's Cancer). This type of cancer usually gets worse quickly if it is …show more content…
There are many different ways to Diagnose ALL. A blood test can diagnose ALL by the examining the blood under a microscope and counted the blood cells. Another way to diagnose Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is through a bone marrow biopsy, the child is sedated and given a shot in the hip area to numb it. After the hip on the child is numbed the area is ready for the biopsy. A thin needle is quickly inserted into a bone in the hip and a small amount of marrow is removed. The bone marrow from the hip is then sent to the laboratory where it is examined under the microscope to determine the kinds of cells present, their developmental stage, and their population strength. The results of the bone marrow biopsy can be available within 48 hours (Children's Cancer). One more way the Leukemia can be detected is through a spinal tap. This way is needed to determine if the leukemia is present in the central nervous system. The child is usually sedated and lies on their side and a spot in the back is numbed. A very thin needle is inserted into the space between the vertebrae where little pockets of cushioning spinal fluid are found and then examined under the microscope. Results from the spinal tap usually come back within a few hours (National Cancer …show more content…
Chemotherapy is the most widely accepted treatment. Chemotherapy is a type of cancer-fighting drugs into the bloodstream by mouth, or through a needle into a vein or muscle. It is a systemic treatment because the circulating blood carries the drugs throughout the entire body. In ALL patients, the drugs also are injected into the fluid surrounding the spine and brain in a procedure known as “intrathecal chemotherapy.” Radiation is another type of therapy or treatment. This relies on a beam of high-energy particles, such as X-rays, directed at the cancer by a machine outside the body. The assault from this concentrated energy kills cells and reduces tumor size. Radiation therapy is often reserved for ALL involving the central nervous system or the testes, or for patients with T-cell disease. One more type of treatment is bone marrow and blood transplant. This consists of replacing diseased bone marrow with healthy blood and bone marrow. Diseased marrow is killed with high doses of chemotherapy, and sometimes radiation, Healthy marrow or stem cells are then taken from a donor whose tissues match the patient’s tissues. This donated marrow is transplanted through a needle in a vein. Marrow cells then select the right places in the bones to replace diseased marrow (Children's
Leukemia is a type of blood cancer that starts in the stem cells of the bone marrow. In leukemia, white bloods cells fail to mature properly. These immature cells continue to reproduce at a rapid rate, crowding out healthy cells and producing a host of symptoms (St.Judes). Bone marrow is a soft, spongy material that is inside most bones and it produces the blood cells for the body. Stem cells or immature blood cells develop into lymphoid stem cells or myeloid blood cells. It is a systemic disease which means it can go throughout the body (Leukemia). It appears that it happens in most children under the age of ten (Children's Cancer). This type of cancer usually gets worse quickly if it is …show more content…
There are many different ways to Diagnose ALL. A blood test can diagnose ALL by the examining the blood under a microscope and counted the blood cells. Another way to diagnose Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is through a bone marrow biopsy, the child is sedated and given a shot in the hip area to numb it. After the hip on the child is numbed the area is ready for the biopsy. A thin needle is quickly inserted into a bone in the hip and a small amount of marrow is removed. The bone marrow from the hip is then sent to the laboratory where it is examined under the microscope to determine the kinds of cells present, their developmental stage, and their population strength. The results of the bone marrow biopsy can be available within 48 hours (Children's Cancer). One more way the Leukemia can be detected is through a spinal tap. This way is needed to determine if the leukemia is present in the central nervous system. The child is usually sedated and lies on their side and a spot in the back is numbed. A very thin needle is inserted into the space between the vertebrae where little pockets of cushioning spinal fluid are found and then examined under the microscope. Results from the spinal tap usually come back within a few hours (National Cancer …show more content…
Chemotherapy is the most widely accepted treatment. Chemotherapy is a type of cancer-fighting drugs into the bloodstream by mouth, or through a needle into a vein or muscle. It is a systemic treatment because the circulating blood carries the drugs throughout the entire body. In ALL patients, the drugs also are injected into the fluid surrounding the spine and brain in a procedure known as “intrathecal chemotherapy.” Radiation is another type of therapy or treatment. This relies on a beam of high-energy particles, such as X-rays, directed at the cancer by a machine outside the body. The assault from this concentrated energy kills cells and reduces tumor size. Radiation therapy is often reserved for ALL involving the central nervous system or the testes, or for patients with T-cell disease. One more type of treatment is bone marrow and blood transplant. This consists of replacing diseased bone marrow with healthy blood and bone marrow. Diseased marrow is killed with high doses of chemotherapy, and sometimes radiation, Healthy marrow or stem cells are then taken from a donor whose tissues match the patient’s tissues. This donated marrow is transplanted through a needle in a vein. Marrow cells then select the right places in the bones to replace diseased marrow (Children's