Symptoms of blood cancer in children are invisible and are under special control. Blood cancer: types, symptoms and signs, diagnosis and prognosis Blood cancer in a child, treatment

11.02.2017

Leukemia is a blood cancer that has different forms of manifestation. It is better to treat blood leukemia, like any other type of oncology, at an early stage. How does this type of oncology manifest itself, what treatment will be optimal?

Life expectancy with blood cancer?

Speaking about the prognosis of this disease, the chronic form is much better than the acute form. With the development of an acute form of the disease, the patient begins to quickly fade away, with it:

• there is almost no possibility of active treatment;
• in approximately 80% of all cases it becomes a catalyst for the development of lymphoblastic leukemia.

When this type of blood cancer is detected at a late stage, months count. When starting timely treatment from two to five years. The chronic form of the disease is characterized by a slow course, but this occurs before a specific period, during which the “blast crisis” begins. In this case, the chronic form suddenly acquires acute symptoms.

If the attending physician detects the disease in a timely manner, the patient will have the opportunity to prolong life for decades. Life expectancy will depend solely on the treatment performed, the stage of the disease and the overall picture.

It is also much easier to cure leukemia at an earlier age.

Depending on the stage of the disease, the development of different manifestations of the disease is possible.

Initial stage of acute leukemia

Acute leukemia is a disease with pronounced symptoms that cannot go unnoticed. A patient with leukemia may experience symptoms such as:

• constant apathy, weakness, lethargy;
• a painful feeling in the peritoneum, especially in its upper part;
• painful sensations in the joints, against which aching bones appear;
• speaking about leukemia symptoms, it is necessary to note regular bleeding, which is very problematic to stop;
• leukemia leads to a significant increase in not only lymph nodes, but also the liver;
• accelerated formation of blood stains and bruises;
• manifestation of a condition reminiscent of fever in its symptoms;
• regular infectious diseases;
• regular urge to urinate.

This manifestation of oncology is determined after the fact, during its transition to further stages.

Advanced stage of blood cancer

Signs of advanced stage leukemia may manifest themselves as follows:

• active sweating at nightfall;
• nausea, which can occur suddenly; the patient often confuses it with attacks of malaise, which may periodically be accompanied by vomiting and dizziness;
• speaking about blood cancer symptoms of this form, one should note seasickness or motion sickness in any vehicle, even if such a phenomenon has never happened before;
• leukemia is accompanied by rapid weight loss for which there are no apparent reasons.

After the first signs of blood cancer have been noticed and timely treatment has been carried out, the disease can progress to stages such as:

• terminal (in this case, complete inhibition of the hematopoietic system is determined, in which normal functioning is impossible);
• remission (over several years, blast-type cells cease to form in the patient’s blood. Blood cancer can be in remission for 5-7 years.

Late stage of acute blood cancer

If the symptoms of leukemia were not identified before the disease developed into a late stage, then the patient requires hospitalization as quickly as possible. What symptoms appear at this stage:

• nails and lips turn blue;
• the patient experiences convulsions;
• painful tremors appear in the abdominal cavity;
• Quite strong or uncontrolled blood flow;
• blood cancer at this stage causes an increase in temperature to 38 degrees or more;
• increase in the degree of anxiety and modification of consciousness. In such a situation, frequent fainting for no apparent reason and a complete absence of reactions during external stimulation are observed;
• blood cancer leukemia may be accompanied by severe pressure in the chest, pain in the heart, palpitation;
• often tachycardia develops against the background of the disease;
• dyspnea is a dysfunction of the respiratory system, which is characterized by hoarseness or difficulty.

If the disease was not diagnosed in the early stages, then the disease manifests itself with the symptoms described above.

Symptoms of the chronic stage

Speaking about the symptoms of leukemia, it should be noted that in the presence of a chronic stage, the manifestations of the disease may be different. If you have chronic blood leukemia, the symptoms of the disease will be as follows:

• the first symptoms of blood cancer pass without external obvious manifestations; during the examination, it is possible to determine an increased number of granular leukocytes (in other words, this is called the monocolon stage of blood cancer);
• at the polyclonal stage, the formation of secondary type tumors and a large change in the number of blast cells are observed. At this stage, changes in the size of the spleen and liver may be observed.

Causes of blood cancer formation

Having learned what leukemia is, it is also important to determine the causes of the disease. It has not yet been possible to determine the exact causes of leukemia, but there are certain factors that may contribute to the development of the disease. Most often, the main causes of leukemia are as follows:

• oncology in the past. People who have previously undergone radiotherapy or chemotherapy for any other type of cancer significantly increase the likelihood of developing any form of leukemia;
• diseases that are genetic in nature. Certain abnormalities that a person receives during birth, such as Down syndrome, can greatly increase the likelihood that the patient will develop any type of blood cancer;
• Some diseases that are associated with the functioning of blood vessels or blood, for example, myelodysplastic type syndrome, which also increases the likelihood of developing blood cancer;
• the causes of blood cancer may be the effect of radiation on the human body, causing varying degrees of oncology;
• direct exposure to certain chemicals. Interaction with metals that release toxins, for example, benzene, is very dangerous, as it leads to the likelihood of developing leukemia;
• if blood leukemia was observed in any of the relatives. Scientists were able to prove that sick blood relatives were much more likely to develop the disease. Such a person is recommended to be examined as often as possible in order to identify the first signs of leukemia and begin immediate treatment;
• taking certain potent medications.

It is necessary to understand that, speaking about the causes of leukemia, it should be noted that such an enemy is still one of the most mysterious in modern medicine. There are cases when people who have nothing to do with the above factors are faced with such a disease. Therefore, when talking about the signs of leukemia, listen very carefully to your body, and even better, undergo a regular medical examination.

Blood cancer stage 4

Speaking about the causes of blood cancer, I would like to talk separately about the fourth stage of this type of oncology. This stage is considered the last; in 95% of all cases it is already irreversible.

In this case, you can see forced and chaotic growths, as well as the spread of cancer cells throughout the entire circulatory system of the body.

During this process, damage to nearby healthy organs and tissues is observed. The disease leukemia causes the occurrence of numerous individual metastases, which will be located in all organs of the human body.

Leukemia symptoms of the fourth stage may manifest themselves as follows:

• the appearance of various types of bone cancer;
• malignant tumors that are characterized by rapid growth;
• the appearance of an “extremely fatal” type, for example, pancreatic cancer;
• rapid development of metastases that form in the brain, pancreas, bones and lungs.

Unfortunately, it is no longer possible to recover from this stage of cancer. In this case, the patient is prescribed medications aimed at improving the quality of life.

Blood cancer in children

Speaking about what leukemia is, it should be noted that the disease often affects children. According to available statistics, various types of leukemia are observed in children from two to five years old, and in 60% of all cases boys are affected by the disease.

Causes and symptoms

The main reasons for the occurrence of leukemia at such a young age are considered to be two main factors:

• dysfunction that is genetic in nature (hereditary predisposition);
• exposure to radiation, as well as exposure of a woman during a particular period of pregnancy.

Speaking about blood cancer types and manifestations of the disease, they are similar to those in adults:

• significant pallor of the skin;
• increased fatigue;
• general feeling of drowsiness and weakness;
• pain in joints and bones;
• an increase in the size of the lymph nodes, spleen and liver.

As a result, it happens that the child does not want to play, his appetite completely (partially) disappears, which leads to severe weight loss. It may not be strange, but one of the early signs of the disease should be called sore throat. In some cases, the degree of bleeding increases and skin rashes appear.

Treatment of blood cancer in a child

Many parents whose children are faced with this problem are wondering whether leukemia can be cured? Everything directly depends on the stage of the disease; cure is possible in the initial form using bone marrow transplantation and chemotherapy. In childhood, the result after chemotherapy is better than in the situation with adults.

Treatment of leukemia in this case is better because the child’s body returns to normal much faster and better after the therapy. When treatment for blood cancer is required, close relatives of the baby - sisters or brothers - are often used as a donor for a bone marrow transplant.

Treatment of blood cancer is best done with a blood transfusion. This is primarily due to the fact that in a sick baby, the bone marrow stops producing any types of cells. If a blood transfusion is not performed, the child may die from the slightest discharge of blood or a variety of simple infections.

Blood cancer treatment

Adults are also extremely interested in whether this type of cancer can be cured or not and what method of therapy is recommended to use? To treat leukemia in the acute stage, the following methods of therapy are used:

• a combination of one to three drugs whose action is aimed at fighting tumors;
• Leukemia is treated with a large dose of glucocorticoid-type hormones;
• In some cases of blood cancer, treatment includes a bone marrow transplant. Supportive activities are of great importance. We are talking about the transfusion of some blood components and the fastest possible cure of infectious diseases that can be associated with cancer;
• If we talk about whether leukemia is curable or not, it all depends on its type; in the chronic form, the patient is prescribed antimetabolites. This is a certain type of medication that can suppress the increase in the size of cancerous tumors. In some cases, when talking about how to cure blood cancer, doctors may prescribe radiation therapy, as well as the introduction of certain substances into the body, for example, radioactive phosphorus.

Speaking about whether leukemia can be cured, it is tedious to note that treatment methods are selected depending on the stage and form of the disease. To monitor the patient’s condition, it is recommended to regularly take blood tests and undergo a bone marrow examination. Knowing what blood cancer is, it must be said that its therapy will be necessary throughout the entire period of a person’s life.

Speaking about leukemia, what it is, I would like to note that there is always a possibility of relapse. In the presence of an acute type of disease, a relapse is observed during the treatment period or immediately after its completion.

If you have leukemia that was treated in a timely manner, then there is a chance that the disease will never return. After a remission of five years, relapses are rare.

Conclusion

Knowing what leukemia is, the causes of the disease can be very diverse, and in some cases the disease can even arise on its own. In this case, it is necessary to understand how to treat leukemia, because only with timely therapy can a complete recovery be achieved.

Childhood leukemia most often affects boys between the ages of two and five. In essence, this is a malignant growth of cells of the hematopoietic system. This disease quickly spreads throughout the body through the blood, the affected cells enter the bone marrow and replace healthy ones. However, blood cancer in children is not always a fatal diagnosis.

There are several main reasons:

• Exposure to radiation (directly on the child or on the mother during pregnancy);
• Various genetic disorders (for example, if among close relatives someone has suffered or is suffering from blood cancer, the risk of the child’s disease is higher);
• Long-term use of certain medications (because of this, the immune system is seriously damaged, and the child is at greater risk of getting sick);
• Unfavorable environmental conditions (for example, release of toxic chemicals from factories or factories near housing).

The disease develops due to mutation of cells of the circulatory system. Mutated cells grow and multiply abnormally quickly, eventually replacing healthy ones. However, it is impossible to differentiate them from healthy ones.

Even one of these factors can provoke the disease, and their combination increases the risk many times over. However, the absence of all the reasons described above does not guarantee that a child will never encounter blood cancer, so it is very important to undergo all the necessary examinations on time in order to identify the disease at an early stage and provide the necessary assistance in a timely manner.

Forms of blood cancer in children

In general, there are two types of cancer depending on the structure of the affected cells - acute and chronic. They are further divided into subspecies. For the onset of the disease, a mutation of just one cell is enough. There are several formed elements in the blood - leukocytes, platelets and erythrocytes, each of them can degenerate into malignant cells and on this basis three forms of leukemia are distinguished.

Leukocyte

In normal condition, white blood cells protect the body from the penetration of bacteria and viruses. The disease originates from lymphocytes in the bone marrow. If at least one cell has mutated, then uncontrolled growth and reproduction of malignant leukocytes begins. This form can be acute or chronic and proceeds aggressively. However, the prognosis for a cure is quite optimistic.

Thrombocinic

Platelets usually maintain the integrity of internal tissues, but their cells can also degenerate into malignant ones with all the ensuing consequences.

Erythrocyte

Red blood cells deliver oxygen to cells. But due to their degeneration, blood cancer can occur.

Sometimes hematosorcomas are also isolated. They are obtained from lymphatic tissue. The course of the disease is aggressive. The patient develops groups of tumors that actively grow and develop thanks to all three types of blood cells.

Clinical stages

Blood cancer is classified into stages, but each of them can also be considered a separate pathology.

At the first stage, there is a sharp drop in immunity, and bone marrow cells also mutate.

In the second stage, the malignant neoplasms themselves form.

In the third stage, the affected cells begin to move through the blood and lymph throughout the body.

On the fourth stage, the tumor penetrates into the internal organs. As a rule, at this stage it is no longer possible to cure the disease.

Symptoms of pathology

The following phenomena are observed in sick children:

• Drowsiness;
• Muscle weakness;
• Pain and a sharp increase in sensitivity of joints and bones;
• Increased fatigue;
• Enlargement of the liver and spleen, as well as lymph nodes;
• Pallor;
• Sudden and causeless increase in temperature;
• Yellowness of the skin;
• Dizziness;
• Apathy and increased irritability.
• A sharp increase in sweating;
• Purple rash;
• Labored breathing.

An ill child is lethargic, refuses to play, may refuse to eat, and rapidly loses weight.

As a rule, with the disease, the lymph nodes in the groin, neck and armpits become enlarged. When you press on the enlarged nodes, pain appears.

Despite all of the above, at the initial stage of the disease it is extremely difficult to suspect a tumor based on the existing symptoms. Weakness and fatigue can easily be attributed to the negative influence of external factors. But based on the test results, you can know for sure whether you should sound the alarm. That is why it is important to undergo all necessary examinations on time.

Often blood cancer can begin with a sore throat. Other manifestations include: skin rash, worsening blood clotting. That is, if a child gets injured, the blood will flow longer than before, and the wounds will heal more slowly.

Diagnostics

When there is a suspicion of blood cancer, the specialist first of all refers for tests. You will need to take a general blood test, as well as a biochemistry test. The presence of pathology can be easily determined by the level of hemoglobin. It is worth sounding the alarm if it contains 20–60 g per liter, this is almost half the norm. The number of red blood cells also becomes much less than normal and their sedimentation rate (ESR) drops. With such an analysis, based on the number of lymphocytes, it is already possible to draw conclusions about the stage and form of the pathology.

However, a blood test still does not allow an absolutely accurate diagnosis to be made, so a number of additional studies are performed to confirm a positive or negative result:

• Biopsy (sampling) of bone tissue using a needle from the bones of the chest or pelvis;
• X-ray, MRI, CT. With their help, you can see whether secondary malignant neoplasms have appeared;
• Immunohistochemical study. It is used to determine the presence of cancer antigen in the blood. If the antigen is present, this indicates the presence of a malignant neoplasm.

If blood cancer is detected in a child, an urgent transfusion is necessary. Since children's bone marrow during the disease loses the ability to independently produce cells, and as a result, even a small bruise or a minor viral infection can lead to tragic consequences. The frequency of this procedure is determined by a specialist (the frequency can vary from one to seven times a week). Transfusion is necessary until normal bone marrow activity is restored.

Treatment

Treatment options for childhood blood cancer are the same as for adults. First, chemotherapy is used, and if it does not have an effect, then a bone marrow transplant is performed. Most often, donor brain is taken from close relatives - parents, siblings or brothers. During the postoperative period, the child remains in sterile intensive care conditions for a long time.

Bone marrow transplant surgery is quite complicated. Its success depends on many factors, such as the availability of ideally suitable material for transplantation, the qualifications of specialists, and proper care in the pre- and postoperative period. The fact is that when a donor organ is transplanted, the patient is almost completely deprived of immunity and therefore for him any little thing that is unnoticeable to a healthy person can end very badly.

During chemotherapy, a child is given toxic chemicals through IVs that destroy cancer cells. Unfortunately, these same substances also negatively affect healthy cells, but the child’s body recovers quite quickly from such exposure. Chemotherapy can save about three quarters of patients, which is a very good indicator for cancer. The duration of such therapy is approximately half a year. At this stage, the support and help of loved ones is very important for the baby. Since, in addition to the psychological stress from such therapy, there are also purely physical, very unpleasant effects such as hair loss, a constant feeling of nausea, and sometimes even vomiting. Upon completion of therapy, the child will definitely need a blood transfusion to restore its formed elements in the patient’s body. After these measures are taken, the disease usually goes into remission and ceases to bother you. However, it is important to remember that the chance of relapse remains high. Therefore, radiotherapy is sometimes also used to prevent the disease from returning and spreading.

Prevention

The exact causes of blood cancer have not yet been studied. Therefore, as a preventative measure, we can only recommend standard measures - to carry out activities aimed at maintaining the child’s immunity. After all, statistics show that children with weakened immune systems most often get sick. Avoid exposing your baby to radiation and ensure that he does not come into contact with toxic chemicals. It is also very important to ensure that your diet is correct and varied. If necessary, after consultation with a specialist, the child is additionally given various vitamins and immunomodulators.

Forecast

The prognosis for recovery in children is higher than in adults, since their bodies have better regeneration and, as a result, more quickly overcome the effects of chemotherapy. According to statistics, 72% of children survive this disease, who later live full lives as healthy people. This chance is much higher than for adults and older people. Therefore, childhood blood cancer should not be regarded as a death sentence for the baby; it can be cured if the patient is provided with the necessary assistance in a timely manner.

In any case, only a specialist can give a relatively accurate prognosis, based on the type and stage of leukemia. In chronic forms of the disease, the chances of recovery are higher than in acute forms.

Functional disorders of the hematopoietic system provoke blood cancer. Even newborns are susceptible to these very dangerous diseases.

According to observations, symptoms of blood cancer in children are recorded between two and five years. There are more cases of pathology among boys.

Detection of the disease is complicated by its almost asymptomatic course at the very beginning, but early diagnosis can save the life of a small patient.

Blood cancer in a child, also called leukemia, leukemia, leukemia, manifests itself in the form of a complex of malignant degenerations in blood cells. Gene mutation occurs.

The bone marrow intensively produces pathogenic cellular units that replace healthy cells in the body. These serious metamorphoses of the hematopoietic system provoke leukocyte, hemoglobin and platelet deficiency. Immature leukocytes begin to dominate.

A person often bleeds, the defenses of the immune system drop, and he becomes vulnerable to infections. Degenerated cells move through the blood and lymphatic vessels, provoking the appearance of malignant formations in the internal organs. The tendency of young cells (they grow quickly) to mutate has been discovered.

Depending on the type of affected cells, the following forms of leukemia are distinguished: leukocyte (protective cells change); platelet (cells that maintain tissue integrity are degenerated) and erythrocyte (cells that saturate the body with oxygen mutate).

Causes

The circumstances that trigger blood cancer in children are still being studied and are controversial. The causes of blood cancer in childhood are varied. These include:

• genetic tendency to leukemia;
• taking certain medications;
• aggressive effects of radiation on the human body, accumulation of carcinogenic substances in it;
• consequences of environmental disasters.

As a rule, the coincidence of several factors significantly increases the chances of getting sick. The pathological process can be started by one changed cell, missed by the immune system and entering the bloodstream. In infants, symptoms develop quite quickly.

It has been noted that children with suppressed immunity are most susceptible to developing cancer. This can happen after severe pathologies that affect the protective functions (in particular, after chemotherapy treatment).

Since allergy sufferers have an overactive immune system, this reduces the chances of developing cancer. But even the absence of the described conditions sometimes does not protect against the disease. So it is important to get examined regularly and try to get rid of bad habits.

Symptoms of blood cancer in children

The disease develops in approximately the same way at any age. At first, she hardly shows herself in any typical way. Ailments that may be observed in the early period are often not associated with a tumor.

They are most often noted in retrospect, when the disease progresses and moves to later stages.

As the pathology develops, the following symptoms of blood cancer in children begin to appear:

• the baby gets tired too quickly, is passive, lethargic, refuses to play and eat, and gets irritated quickly;
• the child experiences attacks of dizziness and loses consciousness;
• the skin is covered in places with a reddish rash, hematomas for no obvious reason;
• the baby sweats more intensely at night than before;
• the temperature is low, up to thirty-eight degrees;
• there are signs of respiratory inflammation;
• capillaries in the nose and mouth are broken, causing frequent nosebleeds;
• damage to the epidermis regenerates worse and can become inflamed;
• suffer from joint and bone pain;
• lymph nodes, spleen, liver swell, stomach protrudes;
• the child's body weight decreases sharply.

The symptoms increase gradually, differ slightly from each other, and appear in a different order in each patient. The most obvious of them are lymphadenitis and anemia.

The late stage of the disease is characterized by such severe manifestations as:

• cyanosis of the tissues around the mouth and nails;
• extreme anxiety accompanied by loss of consciousness;
• comatose states.
• there is pain, compression in the heart, erratic and accelerated heartbeat, hyperthermia.
• Respiratory function is impaired, convulsive seizures occur.

Particularly threatening are signals about the onset of internal bleeding: blood in vomit, feces, urine, when coughing, as well as asthenia, rapid heartbeat, low blood pressure.

If your child has several disorders from the list, do not delay visiting a specialist. Early detection of the disease increases the likelihood of successful treatment.

Clinical stages of leukemia in children

Typical symptoms of blood cancer in children may indicate the form of the disease. In acute leukemia, an excess of immature diseased cells is produced. If a chronic type of cancer is diagnosed, there is an excess of degenerated granulocytes. During the blast crisis phase, neoplasms of secondary etiology grow, lymph nodes and some organs enlarge.

Each form is considered an independent hematological pathology. The acute stage of blood cancer cannot become chronic, and vice versa. The disease goes away
several phases in its development:

• at the first stage, the immune system is weakened, the cells in the bone marrow begin to mutate;
• starting from the second stage, neoplasms are formed;
• after some time, with the advancement of diseased cells through the bloodstream and lymphatic system, with the growth of metastases, the third stage is recorded;
• with the onset of the fourth and final stage of the disease, tumors are discovered in other organs (as a rule, cure at this stage is no longer possible).

In childhood, relapse of leukemia can be complicated by damage to the nervous system and its components by cancer cells. With neuroleukemia, neurological disorders, loss of consciousness and migraine attacks are observed.

The disease can enter a remission phase when the blood is free of immature cells for at least five years. The terminal phase is characterized by total inhibition of hematopoietic function.

Diagnostics

If any signs of blood cancer are noticed in children, the first step is to perform a blood test. It allows you to check many important indicators and identify the presence of a cancerous tumor. If there is an oncological lesion of the blood, the hemoglobin level drops to sixty to twenty grams per liter. This indicates a late stage of the disease.

Erythrocyte density decreases to 1.5–1.0 × 102/l. There is also a deficiency of these young anucleate cells. They settle slowly. The number of lymphocytes varies, indicating what form and stage of the disease.

The number of platelets and leukocytes changes downward. The volume of the former drops to fifteen grams per liter, and the blood does not contain basophils and eosinophilic leukocytes at all. In acute leukemia, the number of blast cells increases to almost one hundred percent.

In the case of chronic leukemia, they are represented by no more than ten percent, or are completely absent. The size uniformity of blood cells is disturbed, and leukocytes of different sizes are found.

An alarming signal may also be the overactivity of such components as bile pigment, carbonic acid diamide, gamma globulin, lactate dehydrodenase enzymes, and aspartate aminotransferase. But fibrinogen, sugar and albumin will be in short supply.

After receiving the first results, they resort to other effective manipulations:

• biopsy of bone tissue, samples of which are taken with a syringe by piercing the bone of the pelvic or chest area;
• X-ray examination, magnetic resonance or computed tomography, which allows you to find areas with secondary neoplasms in the body;
• immunohistochemical study, which helps to detect and identify tumor antigens.

These diagnostics allow a comprehensive study of pathological processes, their duration and severity. The doctor has complete information about the disease, which helps him choose the optimal treatment regimen.

Treatment

Blood cancer in children, as well as in adults, is treated in the same way. Chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation are being carried out.

The goal of the first method is to get rid of all mutating pathogenic cells. This procedure is much more successfully tolerated by children and young people. Three quarters of all young patients can be saved.

The patient intravenously receives a toxic drug, which is an antitumor cytostatic, which, unfortunately, has not a selective, but a total effect. Along with cancerous cell units in the blood and lymph, absolutely healthy ones also die. The consequences of this technique are damaged hair follicles, disorders in the bone marrow, and the digestive system.

Those parts of the systems where rapid cellular renewal occurs are affected. As a result, patients go bald, suffer from attacks of nausea, diarrhea, and malaise affect their appetite. Anemia develops, and a deficiency of leukocytes is detected. Glucocorticosteroids are also used. The duration of therapy in each clinical case is tailored to the patient.

This treatment lasts approximately six months. It is extremely important for the baby’s family to be with him and support him at every stage. A prerequisite after treatment is the return of lost red blood cells and platelets through transfusion. After all the manipulations, the disease often goes into remission, but the risk of the pathology returning is still high. Doctors try to prevent the development of metastases and may conduct radiotherapy.

Features of treatment of severe forms

In severe cases of the disease, there is a possibility of relapse. It is in this situation that bone marrow transplantation is used to treat blood cancer in children. The transplant is taken from a healthy person, most often a relative (brother, sister). Many characteristics must match. The graft is then given to the patient through an IV. This procedure is preceded by suppression of the production of one’s own bone marrow by introducing special medications.

In this case, the patient is left with almost no immune protection; all the cells die. It must be kept in sterile conditions, protected from any influences from the environment and other people, so that the weakened body is not attacked by infection during the process of transplantation and engraftment.

The success of this surgical intervention depends on the availability of suitable donor material in all respects and the qualifications of specialists. For a complete cure, the child will have to stay in the inpatient department for six months and continue the course for about another year and a half.

Chronic forms of leukemia are treated with metabolic inhibitors, which slow down the biochemistry of cancer cell reproduction. Sometimes they resort to radiotherapy and inject radioactive substances.

In any case, you will have to constantly monitor the condition of your blood and bone marrow for the rest of your life. Notify your oncologist of any signs of the disease returning or side effects from therapy. If a relapse has not been observed for longer than five years, then the disease may become milder.

Prognosis for blood cancer in children

The likelihood of a favorable outcome and recovery in acute leukemia directly depends on the type of tumor and the stage at which the disease is diagnosed. The pathology develops rapidly and is often fatal. Chronic leukemia gives you a better chance of survival. Acute lymphoblastic neoplasms are cured in seventy-five percent of cases of pathology in adults, myeloblastic neoplasms in fifty.

Young children are developing and are very vulnerable to the threat of cancer. If the disease is discovered late, time is not on their side. But when cancer is detected at the very beginning of its development, the survival rate is up to eighty percent.

Oncological diseases of the blood themselves manifest themselves in different ways and have a fairly large number of symptoms, which can also indicate common diseases. That is why it is necessary to collectively know how blood cancer acts on the human body in order to diagnose it in time and later cure it. Today we will learn how to identify blood cancer and much, much more.

What is blood cancer?

Usually this is a combination of various pathologies, due to which the hematopoietic system is completely suppressed, and as a result, healthy bone marrow cells are replaced by diseased ones. In this case, almost all cells can be replaced. Cancers in the blood usually divide and multiply rapidly, thereby replacing healthy cells.

There are both chronic blood cancer and acute leukemia, usually a malignant neoplasm in the blood has different types depending on the type of damage to certain groups of cells in the blood. The aggressiveness of the cancer itself and the speed of its spread also depend on this.

Chronic leukemia

Typically, the disease modifies leukocytes; when they mutate, they become granular. The disease itself progresses rather slowly. Later, as a result of replacing diseased leukocytes with healthy ones, the hematopoietic function is disrupted.

Subspecies

• Megakaryocytic leukemia. The stem cell changes, and multiple pathologies appear in the bone marrow. Subsequently, diseased cells appear, which divide very quickly and fill the blood only with them. The number of platelets increases.
• Chronic myeloid leukemia. The most interesting thing is that men are more affected by this disease. The process begins after the mutation of bone marrow cells.
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia. This disease is asymptomatic at first. Leukocytes accumulate in organ tissues, and there are a lot of them.
• Chronic monocytic leukemia. This form does not increase the number of leukocytes, but the number of monocytes increases.

Acute leukemia

In general, there is already an increase in the number of blood cells, while they grow very quickly and divide quickly. This type of cancer develops faster, which is why acute leukemia is considered a more severe form for the patient.

Subspecies

• Lymphoblastic leukemia. This cancer is more common in children aged 1 to 6 years. In this case, lymphocytes are replaced with diseased ones. Accompanied by severe intoxication and decreased immunity.
• Erythromyeloid leukemia. In the bone marrow, an increased growth rate of erythroblasts and normoblasts begins. The number of red cells increases.
• Myeloblastic leukemia. Usually there is a breakdown at the DNA level of blood cells. As a result, diseased cells completely displace healthy ones. In this case, a deficiency of any of the main ones begins: leukocytes, platelets, erythrocytes.
• Megakaryoblastic leukemia. Rapid increase in megakaryoblasts and undifferentiated blasts in the bone marrow. In particular, it affects children with Down syndrome.
• Monoblastic leukemia. During this disease, the temperature constantly rises and general intoxication of the body occurs in a patient with blood cancer.

Causes of blood cancer

As you probably know, blood is made up of several main cells that perform their functions. Red blood cells deliver oxygen to the tissues of the whole body, platelets allow us to clog wounds and crevices, and white blood cells protect our body from antibodies and foreign organisms.

Cells are born in the bone marrow, and in the early stages they are more susceptible to external factors. Any cell can turn into a cancer cell, which will then endlessly divide and multiply. Moreover, these cells have a different structure and do not perform their function 100%.

The exact factors by which cell mutation can occur are not yet known to scientists, but there are some suspicions:

• Radiation and background radiation in cities.
• Ecology
• Chemical substances.
• Incorrect course of medications and drugs.
• Poor nutrition.
• Serious illnesses, such as HIV.
• Obesity.
• Smoking and alcohol.

Why is cancer dangerous? Cancer cells initially begin to mutate in the bone marrow, where they endlessly divide and take nutrients from healthy cells, plus releasing large amounts of waste products.

When there are too many of them, these cells begin to spread through the blood into all tissues of the body. Blood cancer usually comes from two diagnoses: leukemia and lymphosarcoma. But the correct scientific name is still precisely “hemoblastosis”, that is, the tumor arose as a result of a mutation of hematopoietic cells.

Hemoblastoses that appear in the bone marrow are called leukemia. Previously, it was also called leukemia or leukemia - this is when a large number of immature leukocytes appear in the blood.

If the tumor originates outside the bone marrow, it is called hematosarcoma. There is also a more rare disease, lymphocytoma, when the tumor affects mature lymphocytes. Blood cancer or hemablastosis has a bad course due to the fact that cancer cells can affect any organ, and in any form the damage will necessarily fall on the bone marrow.

Once metastasis begins and malignant cells spread to different types of tissue, they subsequently behave differently, and this makes the treatment itself worse. The fact is that each such cell perceives treatment in its own way and can react differently to chemotherapy.

What is the difference between malignant blood cancer and benign one? In fact, benign tumors do not spread to other organs and the disease itself occurs without symptoms. Malignant cells grow very quickly and metastasize even faster.

Symptoms of blood cancer

Let's look at the very first signs of blood cancer:

• Headaches, dizziness
• Bone pain and joint pain
• Aversion to food and smells
• The temperature rises without certain signs and diseases.
• General weakness and fatigue.
• Frequent infectious diseases.

The first symptoms of blood cancer may also indicate other diseases, which is why the patient rarely sees a doctor at this stage and loses a lot of time. Later, other symptoms may appear, which family and friends pay attention to:

• Pallor
• Yellowness of the skin.
• Drowsiness
• Irritability
• Bleeding that does not stop for a long time.

In some cases, the lymph nodes of the liver and spleen may become greatly enlarged, causing the abdomen to swell in size and create a strong feeling of bloating. At later stages, a rash appears on the skin, and the mucous membranes in the mouth begin to bleed.

If the lymph nodes are affected, you will see a hard seal, but without painful symptoms. In this case, you need to immediately consult a doctor and do an ultrasound of the necessary areas.

NOTE! An enlarged liver spleen may also be due to other infectious diseases, so additional examination is necessary.

Diagnosis of blood cancer

How to recognize blood cancer in the early stages? Usually this disease is identified already at the first stage. Later, a brain puncture is performed - a rather painful operation - using a thick needle to pierce the pelvic bone and take a sample of bone marrow.

Later, these tests are sent to the laboratory, where they look at the cells under a microscope and then report the result. In addition, you can do an analysis for tumor markers. In general, doctors conduct as many examinations as possible, even after identifying the tumor itself.

But why? - the fact is that leukemia has many varieties and each disease has its own character and is more sensitive to certain types of treatment - that is why you need to know what exactly the patient is suffering from in order for the doctor to understand how to properly treat blood cancer.

Stages of blood cancer

Typically, staging allows the doctor to determine the size of the tumor, the extent of its damage, as well as the presence of metastasis and the effect on distant tissues and organs.

Stage 1

First, as a result of a failure of the immune system itself, mutant cells appear in the body, which have a different appearance and structure and are constantly dividing. At this stage, cancer is quite easily and quickly treated.

Stage 2

The cells themselves begin to flock together and form tumor clots. At the same time, the treatment is even more effective. Metastasis has not yet begun.

Stage 3

There are so many cancer cells that they first affect the lymphatic tissues and then spread through the blood to all organs. Metastases are distributed throughout the body.

Stage 4

Metastases began to deeply affect other organs. The effectiveness of chemotherapy decreases significantly due to the fact that other tumors begin to react differently to the same chemical reagent. Pathology in women can spread to the genitals, uterus and mammary glands.

How is blood cancer treated?

Chemotherapy is usually used to combat this disease. Using a needle, chemical reagents are injected into the blood and are aimed directly at cancer cells. It is clear that other cells also suffer, resulting in: hair loss, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, loose stools, decreased immunity and anemia.

The problem with this therapy is that, of course, the reagents themselves are aimed at destroying only cancer cells, but they are very similar to our own. And later they can mutate and change their properties, which is why any reagent simply stops working. As a result, more toxic substances are used, which already have a detrimental effect on the body itself.

Malignant blood disease is a very nasty disease, and compared to other tumors, it is very fast, so if it is not diagnosed and treated in time, the patient dies within 5 months.

There is another rather dangerous treatment method when bone marrow is transplanted. Before this, chemotherapy is used to completely destroy the patient’s bone marrow in order to completely destroy the cancer cells.

NOTE! Dear readers, remember that no healers or healers can help you cure this disease, and since it develops very quickly, you definitely need to see a doctor in time. In this case, you can use: vitamins, herbal decoctions of chamomile, yarrow, sea buckthorn oil - they have anti-inflammatory properties and will help stop the bleeding if something happens. Do not use folk remedies such as: tinctures of fly agaric, hemlock, celandine and other remedies with sending substances. You must understand that in this case the patient’s body has a very weakened effect, and this can simply finish it off.

Will we cure blood cancer or not?

Can blood cancer be cured? This all depends on the degree and stage of the cancer, as well as the type itself. With acute leukemia, the disease is usually very aggressive and rapid - doctors require more courses of chemotherapy, so in this case the prognosis is sadder. For Chronic leukemia, everything is much rosier, since the disease spreads and does not develop so quickly.

Blood cancer in children

In fact, this disease is quite common in young patients from 1 to 5 years old. This is mainly due to the radiation that mothers receive during pregnancy, as well as due to a genetic disorder within the child.

In this case, the disease proceeds in the same way as in adults, with all the accompanying symptoms. The difference is that children are much more susceptible to recovery - this is due to the fact that the regeneration of cells and tissues in children is at a much higher level than in adults.

Leukemia is a whole group of malignant diseases of the hematopoietic system. All diseases of this group have a common characteristic, which is that malignant clones are formed from hematopoietic cells of the bone marrow.

Causes of the disease

There are many reasons for the development of leukemia. This disease can be provoked by viral infections. Some viruses act on the human body in such a way that normal cells turn into cancer cells. Leukemia can be inherited. Research shows that if at least one family member suffers from leukemia, then this disease will certainly manifest itself in his grandchildren, children or great-grandchildren. If one or both parents have chromosomal defects, their children are often born with leukemia.

Sometimes there are cases when leukemia develops due to the presence of defects in the immune system. Leukemia can be caused by leukemia and chemical factors. That is, leukemia can be provoked by antibiotics of the penicillin group, cytostatics, they are prescribed to the patient for the treatment of cancer, as well as cephalosporins. These drugs should only be taken when absolutely necessary. Chemicals that can influence the occurrence of the disease include carpeting, linoleum, and detergents (of synthetic origin). Leukemia is also caused by radiation exposure.

Signs and course of leukemia in children

The disease develops gradually. The period from the onset of the disease to the appearance of the first clinical symptoms is at least two months. During this period, pathological cells accumulate, and the disease makes itself felt. But during these two months, the first complaints begin to appear, and the parents of a sick child most often do not pay attention to them. First of all, the child’s behavior changes. He gets tired quickly, studies worse, refuses to eat, loses interest in games and peers. The body's defenses are reduced, so even in the initial stages of leukemia, colds and other infections may appear, which are accompanied by an increase in temperature. Sometimes elevated body temperature can be directly related to leukemia itself. If you take blood tests during this time, some changes will be noticeable, but they are not enough to make a diagnosis.

If such changes are observed, then observation of the sick child is recommended. After a certain period, specific symptoms of the disease begin to appear. Many of the children complain of pain in the spine and legs. Pain may appear first in one area, then in another and is persistent. Often patients stop moving and are treated by a traumatologist and cardiologist for polyarthritis or injury. The skin becomes pale and bruises appear. In some cases, signs of leukemia appear more slowly and may include bone pain, infection, bleeding and fever. If you examine the patient, then in addition to signs of anemia, you can find an enlarged spleen, less often - liver, inflammation and enlargement of lymph nodes, micropolyadenia.

In the blood test, changes are noticeable, characteristic of leukemia: reduced levels of hemoglobin, platelets, red blood cells, accelerated ESR. The number of white blood cells in the blood can be low, high or very high. The more blast cells from the bone marrow enter the blood, the higher the number of leukocytes will be. If the child is healthy, then there are no blasts in the blood test, but if they are detected, this indicates the presence of leukemia. In this case, a bone marrow puncture is performed. This is done in order to study how these cells are built and what type of cell line they belong to (T or B).

The data obtained help in diagnosing the type of leukemia, and also helps in identifying additional risk factors for the unfavorable course of the disease and in prescribing adequate treatment.

Diagnosis of leukemia

This disease is diagnosed based on the results of a biochemical and general blood test. Leukemia is confirmed by the results of bone marrow biopsy studies - a bone marrow biopsy. For a biopsy, material is taken from crest trepanation in the ilium or puncture of the sternum.

Treatment of leukemia

The treatment for this disease is to take all measures so that there is not a single leukemia cell in the body. Chemotherapy is actively used, immunotherapy is less developed. There are different treatment programs for leukemia. Such programs use several drugs that have antitumor effects. The average course of treatment lasts two years. The treatment program is selected individually for each child by the doctor, taking into account the type of leukemia and the absence or presence of factors for the possible return of the disease.

If drug therapy does not help, a bone marrow transplant becomes necessary. Relatives of the child are usually used as donors if they are suitable based on research results. The sooner you detect the disease and seek help, the more likely and faster recovery will occur.

Diagnostics

To prevent leukemia, you need to treat all viral infections in a timely manner, eat right, lead a healthy lifestyle, avoid self-medication and take only those medications prescribed by your doctor.

Blood cancer in children

Unfortunately, blood cancer in children is quite common. Traditionally, children between the ages of two and five years are most often affected, and the majority of victims are boys. Blood cancer is a systemic disease of hematopoietic tissue that is malignant in nature. The morphological substrate of this disease is immature blast cells that affect the bone marrow.

In children, cancer can occur due to the effects of radiation (for example, a mother can be irradiated while pregnant) or a violation of the cellular genetic apparatus (as a hereditary factor). During the development of the disease, certain mutations occur in the cells responsible for hematopoiesis. In addition, the cells are constantly growing and it is practically impossible to distinguish them from normally functioning cells and to change the rate of maturation. The fact is that all cell groups that form a leukemic tumor come from a single table cell.

Blood cancer in children has the same symptoms as in adults. These symptoms may appear at an early stage. The patient may not even be aware of his condition yet, but he will experience pain in the abdominal area (usually in the upper abdomen). In addition, there is pain in the joints and some aching in the bones. Then frequent bleeding may occur, which is quite difficult to stop, bruises and bruises easily form, and the size of the liver and lymph nodes increases. The patient feels constant apathy and weakness, sometimes there may be a fever, and he may feel a regular urge to urinate. In addition, patients are susceptible to infectious diseases. Among them we can also highlight nausea, which patients sometimes describe as unexpected signs of malaise, which may be accompanied by a feeling of dizziness and even vomiting. And even if the patient has not previously suffered from seasickness or motion sickness in a vehicle, then after the onset of the disease such symptoms may appear. There may be increased sweating at night. As for weight, it may begin to decrease for no apparent reason (appetite, however, also worsens). Frequent sore throats may also be a symptom of early manifestations of blood cancer, and there may also be skin rashes.

But if the disease was not identified in the early stages, then a late stage occurs when urgent medical attention is needed. It is characterized by the occurrence of symptoms such as the appearance of a bluish tint to the lips and nails, the occurrence of increased anxiety (as a change in levels of consciousness), frequent fainting, and a decreased reaction to various external stimuli. There may be severe pain in the cardiac region, tightness and pressure in the chest, and palpitation. Body temperature may rise (up to thirty-eight degrees Celsius) and heart rate may increase (that is, tachycardia). Shortness of breath and hoarse breathing appear, or the breathing process simply becomes difficult. Quite severe pain occurs in the abdomen, and uncontrollable and severe bleeding may occur. The child requires constant care, and someone may need a live-in caregiver.

As a rule, children can suffer from two types of leukemia - acute and chronic. And the form of the disease is determined not by the duration of certain clinical manifestations, but by the structure of the cancer cells. The acute form may be characterized by the presence of immature cells in the common cellular substrate. The chronic form can be characterized by the presence of mature elements in cancer cells.

Quite often, a type of blood cancer called “neuroleukemia” is detected in children. In this case, the child may exhibit neurological symptoms (including damage to the membranes of the brain and brain tissue), a feeling of dizziness, headaches, and so on. This form of the disease can develop in case of relapse of the disease - when a new round of cancer appears some time after treatment has been completed. Then it is necessary to use new chemotherapy drugs, since treating a child with such a relapse is very difficult. A general blood test for cancer shows the need for urgent treatment. And the treatment of cancer in children is practically no different from the treatment of adults. This is a chemotherapy method and a bone marrow transplant. And it should be noted that in children the possible effect of chemotherapy is usually better than in adults. The fact is that the child’s body is able to recover faster after the treatment procedure. When a bone marrow transplant occurs, the donor is often one of the child’s close relatives.

Blood sarcoma is a fairly life-threatening disease and to diagnose it, it is necessary to carry out a mandatory blood transfusion of the child. This is necessary because in a sick child the bone marrow stops producing any cells. And if the obligatory blood transfusion is not done in time, the child may die from the most common infection and the slightest hemorrhage (for a healthy person such troubles would not pose a danger). There are also drugs that can restore the functioning of the child’s bone marrow, but the drug’s immediate effect cannot be said, and therefore the child will still need certain portions of blood at first. So some children receive transfusions once a week, while some poor children receive transfusions every day.

Of course, there are drugs that can renew the functioning of the bone marrow in a child, but their effect does not begin immediately, and therefore the patient will definitely need new portions of blood at first. Some children with blood cancer require blood transfusions as often as once a week, and for others every day.

Chemotherapy is also carried out, such as intravenous administration of highly toxic and strong medications. These drugs are taken in large doses, and the therapy is aimed at destroying all foreign, aggressive cancer cells. But this can also damage your cells. Because of this, rapidly developing normal tissues may suffer, including cells of the hair follicle (hair may fall out), cells of the gastrointestinal tract (nausea with vomiting, upset stool may occur), the reproductive system and bone marrow suffer (anemia may occur at times, as a decrease in the number of red blood cells or leukopenia, as a decrease in the number of white blood cells. And today, scientists around the world are working to develop drugs for treatment that will not affect normally functioning cells. However, at the moment such a drug does not exist, and cancer cells are very similar to normally functioning cells.

Many people are interested in how long people with blood cancer live. If you are not treated on time, then five months will be enough. But it all depends on the diagnosis and the form of leukemia.

Blood cancer - symptoms in children

Blood cancer in children is a group of oncological diseases of the circulatory system, which are characterized by the occurrence of gene mutations in bone marrow tissue, resulting in an increased formation of malignant cells that displace the physiological elements of the blood. Changes in the structural composition of the circulatory system in both children and adults lead to cytopenia (decrease in the number of leukocytes and platelets), anemia (lack of hemoglobin), frequent bleeding and infectious diseases. Leukemia is characterized by the spread of malignant cells through the lymphatic system with the formation of metastases in the liver and spleen.

Blood cancer in children - causes

Cancers of the circulatory system in children mainly arise for the following reasons:

1. Exposure to ionizing radiation, which causes mutation at the cellular level. Highly active radiological rays can have a carcinogenic effect both in the prenatal period and after the birth of the child.
2. Systemic penetration of chemical carcinogens into the body.
3. Genetic predisposition. The presence of malignant neoplasms in direct relatives increases the chances of developing cancer in a child several times.

Blood cancer - symptoms in children

In most cases, the initial period of the disease is asymptomatic, which significantly complicates the primary oncological diagnosis. During this period, the following signs of cancer in children may be observed:

• general malaise, lethargy and drowsiness
• impaired blood supply to brain tissue manifests itself in the form of memory impairment
• long-term healing of superficial scratches and injuries with frequent suppuration of the wound surface
• The appearance of a sick child has such features as pale skin and dark circles around the eyes.

  Late signs of blood cancer in children include:

• persistent increase in body temperature to low-grade levels
• enlargement and tenderness of regional lymph nodes
• frequent bacterial and viral diseases.

  Blood cancer in a child - diagnosis

  When the first alarming symptoms are detected, doctors prescribe a detailed blood test, in which changes in hematological parameters may be observed in the direction of a decrease in formed elements and the presence of immature blast cells. Based on the quantitative composition of the circulatory system, the form of malignant lesion is determined.

  

  The final diagnosis is usually made on the basis of a bone marrow biopsy. This technique includes the collection of biological material directly from the source of pathology and subsequent histological analysis. Cytological diagnosis allows you to determine the type of tumor and its spread.

  To detect secondary foci of malignant neoplasms, the oncologist prescribes radiology, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. These studies scan internal organs and bone tissue using x-rays.

  Clinical stages of leukemia in children

  1. The first or initial stage is characterized by a decrease in the activity of the immune system and the beginning of cancerous degeneration of bone marrow cells.
  2. At the second stage, the concentration of oncological tissues and the formation of a cancerous tumor occurs.
  3. The third stage of blood cancer. At this stage, malignant cells actively circulate through the circulatory system and take part in the formation of metastatic lesions.
  4. For the fourth or later stage, the detection of cancerous foci in the internal organs is considered typical. At this stage, the disease is incurable and requires exclusively palliative treatment.

  Treatment of blood cancer in children

  Treatment of malignant lesions of the circulatory system in children includes two main methods of therapy:

  This technique is considered a fairly effective anticancer agent and involves the internal administration of cytostatic agents. The systemic effect of such drugs is aimed at destroying cancer cells not only in the bloodstream, but also in the lymphatic system. The course of chemotherapy is calculated individually for each patient. The duration of conservative treatment is about six months.

  Children with cancer during chemotherapy are in the inpatient department of the hematology clinic. Such patients should be isolated from the external environment due to their high susceptibility to bacterial and viral infection. This is explained by the fact that during drug treatment in the body the number of leukocytes, which are responsible for the state of the immune system, sharply decreases.

  Surgery is a very complex medical procedure, which consists of the sequential destruction of all bone marrow cells and transplantation of donor material directly into the bone tissue. Such a surgical operation requires careful selection of a donor and highly qualified surgical team.

  Forecast

  Early diagnosis of blood cancer in children leads to a favorable outcome even after chemotherapy. The failure of cytotoxic drugs or relapse of the disease requires a bone marrow transplant. The surgical treatment method has an 80% postoperative survival rate. Diagnosing the pathology at a late stage of cancer development ensures a negative outcome of therapy.

  Symptoms and treatment of blood cancer in children

  Blood cancer in children, leukemia or childhood leukemia is an insidious disease, which is almost impossible to recognize in the initial stages. The disease is characterized by a mutation in the cells of the hematopoietic system. Leukemia does not have a specific localization; tumor cells spread freely throughout the body, which can lead to numerous metastases.

  A favorable outcome of the disease depends on the time of diagnosis - the earlier cancer is detected, the greater the chance of saving the child.

  Causes

  No one can say for sure why children develop cancer. After all, children are not exposed to carcinogens - they do not drink alcohol, do not smoke, and are not exposed to harmful effects in industrial positions. What could be the reasons for the appearance of a malignant tumor at such an early age?

  Science can only speculate on the possible causes of mutation of cells of the hematopoietic system, among them:

• hereditary predisposition to leukemia
• weakening of the immune system after serious illness, especially if chemotherapy was used in treatment
• strong radioactive exposure and unfavorable environment.

  These causes will not necessarily cause blood cancer in children; they simply increase the risk of developing the disease. Most often, the triggering factor is a combination of these reasons. Due to negative external influences and reduced immunity, the body is not able to fight mutated blood cells. Their number increases, they replace healthy cells, and the disease progresses. Then its first symptoms appear.

  Symptoms

  There are no specific symptoms for blood cancer. The disease cannot be recognized in the early stages, since its symptoms are perceived as a normal reaction of the body to external factors. Gradually their number increases, the child’s condition worsens, and then the parents notice the manifestation of the pathology and take the baby to the doctor.

  The symptoms of leukemia are:

• pale skin and anemia
• increased fatigue, lethargy and weakness
• slight rash, bruises, minor bruises
• low-grade fever (37-38° C)
• bleeding gums, frequent nosebleeds
• aching bones
• enlarged lymph nodes, spleen, liver
• sudden weight loss.

  Symptoms do not appear overnight, they follow each other in different orders. Some children have more pronounced anemic signs, others have hemorrhagic (bleeding), and others have general intoxication.

  Parents often misinterpret symptoms at first. Pallor is explained by insufficient walks, fatigue - by overload in classes and vitamin deficiency, rashes and bruises - by allergies and injuries due to games, fever and weight loss - by a common cold. This is where the insidiousness of malignant blood disease in children lies - it is difficult to notice. The most visible signs are enlarged lymph nodes and severe anemia.

  When should you sound the alarm?

  The above symptoms are not a reason to panic, but you should still consult a doctor. It is especially important to visit a pediatrician if the symptoms are extensive. You can see that the signs are divided into groups:

• anemic – loss of strength, dizziness, passivity, paleness of the mucous membranes and skin
• intoxication – immobility, weakness, aching bones, itching, sweating, weight loss, fever
• hemorrhagic - bleeding, rash in the form of small red dots, bruises that appear for no reason, etc.
• proliferative – enlargement of the abdomen and lymph nodes.

  Symptoms collected in groups are called syndromes. If children experience at least one of these syndromes, it should be urgently shown to a pediatrician. If the doctor cannot give a specific answer to your questions, it makes sense to visit a hematologist.

  Diagnostic methods

  It is extremely important to correctly diagnose blood cancer. An incorrect diagnosis and incorrect treatment can lead to a worsening of the condition. To detect this type of cancer in children, the following methods are used:

• studying symptoms and drawing up an initial clinical picture
• general blood analysis
• biochemical blood test
• bone marrow histology.

  If a child is diagnosed with leukemia, urgent and long-term treatment is required.

  How can doctors help?

  The main treatment is chemotherapy. The child is prescribed a course of cytostatic drugs that have many side effects that will have to be endured in order to save his life. These include complete hair loss, pain, nausea and multiple vomiting, severe damage to other cells growing in the child's body.

  The full course of treatment for cancer in children lasts about two years, the first six months must be spent in a hospital under the close supervision of medical specialists. Due to severe damage to leukocytes - cells of the immune system - the body is extremely susceptible to various viral, bacterial and fungal infections, so the child is protected from contact with the outside world.

  The beginning of chemotherapy is the most difficult period for children. For several weeks they are given intravenous drips every day, and the side effects are especially severe. Therefore, the support of a close relative is necessary; the mother or father will need to stay in the hospital with the child.

  After chemotherapy, platelets and red blood cells are replenished in the child's body using blood transfusions. This is usually when the cancer goes into remission. Therapy is aimed at preventing metastases; according to the doctor’s decision, radiation therapy may be prescribed.

  In especially severe cases, after some time the patient experiences a relapse of the disease. In this case, complete treatment may require a bone marrow transplant; blood relatives or another blood-compatible person serve as the donor.

  Disease prognosis

  Childhood leukemia is not a death sentence. Children aged 2-5 years are most susceptible to developing cancer. This disease is one of the most difficult to treat, but the survival rate of children with this diagnosis is still high. According to statistics, over 72% of children cope with treatment and continue to live, while among adults this figure is about 40%.

  Timely treatment is the basis for success in the fight against cancer of the circulatory system. Monitor your child’s health, do not put off going to the doctor and do not put off therapy if he has been given a terrible diagnosis. Faith, patience and care for the baby during a difficult period for him will contribute to a favorable outcome.