Miscellaneous

How did my daughter get leukemia?

How did my daughter get leukemia?

The exact cause of leukemia in children is not known. There are certain conditions passed on from parents to children (inherited) that increase the risk for childhood leukemia. But, most childhood leukemia is not inherited. Researchers have found changes (mutations) in genes of the bone marrow cells.

Can a child fully recover from leukemia?

Most childhood leukemias have very high remission rates, with some up to 90%. Remission means that doctors see no cancer cells in the body. Most kids are cured of the disease. This means that they’re in permanent remission.

Do leukemia patients stay in the hospital?

Patients will often need to stay in the hospital for 3 to 4 weeks during treatment. However, depending on the situation, many patients can leave the hospital. Those who do, usually need to visit the doctor regularly during treatment.

How often does childhood leukemia come back?

For the most common types of leukemia in children (ALL and AML), if the leukemia does come back, it is most often while the child is still being treated or within a year or so after finishing treatment. It is unusual for ALL or AML to return if there are no signs of the disease within the next 2 years.

What were your child’s first leukemia symptoms?

Symptoms of childhood leukemia

  • Bruising and bleeding. A child with leukemia may bleed more than expected after a minor injury or nosebleed.
  • Stomachache and poor appetite. A child with leukemia may complain of a stomachache.
  • Trouble breathing.
  • Frequent infections.
  • Swelling.
  • Bone and joint pain.
  • Anemia.

    What are the risks of hereditary leukemia syndromes?

    We don’t know yet if having one of these syndromes increases the odds of leukemia relapse after a patient has gone into remission. We do know that some hereditary leukemia syndromes increase the risk for other cancers. Dyskeratosis congenita and Fanconi anemia, for example, increase the patient’s risk for developing squamous cell carcinoma.

    Who is the genetic counselor for hereditary leukemia?

    Courtney DiNardo, M.D., and genetic counselor Sarah Bannon with MD Anderson’s Hereditary Leukemia Clinic are among a handful of health care providers worldwide specializing in hereditary leukemia syndromes. They recently spoke with us about hereditary leukemia and what having one of these syndromes means for patients and their family members.

    What to do if you have hereditary leukemia?

    Some family members may also choose genetic testing to see if they carry the genetic mutation. If they test positive for the syndrome, we strongly recommend they start a screening program that can help catch the disease in its early stages, when it is most treatable.

    What kind of cancer can be passed down from parent to child?

    Certain genetic changes, or mutations, can increase a person’s chances of developing cancer. These changes, known as hereditary cancer syndromes, can be passed down from parent to child. Hereditary leukemia is one of the newest areas our experts are studying.

    What makes a doctor think your child has leukemia?

    The WBCs found are young blood cells called blasts that normally stay in the bone marrow until they are mature. Finding these blast cells in the blood, or finding very few WBCs at all, can also make the doctor think it is leukemia.

    What happens to your body when you have leukemia?

    Leukemia is cancer of the tissues of the body which make the blood cells and the bone marrow. When leukemia strikes, the body makes an abundance of abnormal white cells that do not perform their proper functions. They invade the marrow and crowd out the normal healthy blood cells, making the patient susceptible to infection and bruising.

    Can a 99 year old be diagnosed with leukemia?

    If you are an older adult diagnosed with leukemia, you have treatment options — even at age 99.

    How often does acute lymphoblastic leukemia strike children?

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia usually strikes about 2,500 young children each year, but it may also affect adults. About 80% of ALL cases are cancer-free five years after treatment.