Q: What is childhood leukemia?
A: Leukemia is cancer of the blood cells. However, cancer in children & adolescents is rare.

Q: What happens in leukemia?
A: Abnormal cancer cells (also called as blast cells) accumulate in the bone marrow. They begin to crowd out the normal blood cells that develop there causing anemia, bleeding and infections. These cancer cells may also spread to other parts of the body such as the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, joints & bones ultimately leading to death.

Q: What are the causes of leukemia?
A: The cause of blood cancer still remains unknown. However, few factors have been implicated. The incidence of leukemia is high in patients

- Exposed to radiation
- Exposed to Benzene, pesticides and herbicides.
- Patients given Chemotherapeutic agents previously.
- Exposed to infectious agents such as Ebstein Barr virus, HTLV I & II virus etc.
- Patients with Bloom's syndrome
- Patients with Fanconi's anemia
- Patients with Down's syndrome
- Patients with Klinefelter's syndrome
- Patients with Wiskott - Aldrich syndrome
- Patients with Ataxia Telangiectasia

Q: How is leukemia diagnosed?
A: On clinical suspicion, a variety of tests are done :- blood tests, bone marrow aspiration & biopsy etc.
   However, primary diagnosis is made by bone marrow examination.

Q: How is a patient with leukemia treated?
A: A patient with leukemia is essentially treated by agents that kill the abnormal cancer cells. This is done by either cancer drugs (also called as chemotherapeutic drugs or chemotherapy) or by radiation (radiotherapy).

Q: How is chemotherapy given?
A: Some drugs are given intravenously and some drugs are given orally. Some chemotherapeutic agents are given as an injection in the to destroy the cancer cells in the brain and the spinal cord.
   All pediatric oncology centers have treatment protocols for cancers.

Q: What are the side effects of these agents?
A: Since they act on rapidly dividing cells, their major toxic effects are seen on the bone marrow, GI tract, and skin and hair. Most of these agents cause nausea, vomiting, bleeding gums, bone marrow suppression (leading to low blood count and predisposing to infection), hair loss and diarrhea. Other specific side effects are due to particular agents.

Q: What is radiation therapy?
A: Radiation therapy is treatment with high-energy x- rays. High levels of radiation can kill cells and keep them from growing and dividing. There is no pain or discomfort during the treatment. It is like having an ordinary x-ray taken except that the child needs to be held still for a few minutes.
   The area to be irradiated is marked with a dye. This dye should not be washed off for the duration of therapy as it serves as a guide for aiming the radiation. While radiation therapy is being received, soap or lotion should not be used on these lines or within the radiation field, where the skin becomes tender. The area should also be kept dry.

Last updated on 24-06-2002