What is Leukemia?
Leukemia: A type of cancer that occurs in white blood cells. It is also known as blood cancer and bone marrow cancer. Bone marrow is where white blood cells and red blood cells are produced. The white blood cells in this region contain cells called lymphoid and myeloid. Uncontrolled proliferation of lymphoids and myeloids causes leukemia. Abnormally proliferating lymphoid and myeloids cause the white blood cells to function correctly; It prevents the body from fighting infections and diseases. For this reason, immunity in leukemia patients is also very low.
30% of pediatric cancer patients are leukemia patients. In addition, people over the age of 55 can also develop leukemia. Today, the success rate of leukemia treatment is close to 85%.
Causes of Leukemia
Leukemia begins with the uncontrolled proliferation of lymphoid and myeloid cells. However, in 90% of patients, it cannot be determined what causes this condition. It is known that what we have listed below is a cause of susceptibility to leukemia.
- Down syndrome
- Have had prior radiotherapy or chemotherapy
- Exposure to hazardous chemicals
- Genetic predisposition
- Epstein-Barr virus
- Smoking and alcohol use in adults
Symptoms of Leukemia
Leukemia usually occurs between the ages of 2-5. Symptoms such as anemia and bruising are common in leukemia patients in this age group. If the parents observe disproportionate bruising, spontaneous bruising, bruising in the soft tissue area, they should go to the doctor's control without delay.
General symptoms:
- Anemia
- Pale skin
- Easy bleeding
- Weak immunity
- Frequent fever
- Weakness
- Loss of appetite and abnormal weight loss
- Swelling of lymph nodes in soft tissue areas
- Skin rashes and bruises
- Bone and joint pain
- Breathing problems, chest pain and cough
