MA+Cancer+Research

Children's Luekemia: media type="file" key="leukemia.m4a" information from the american association website
 * Children's leukemia starts in the bone marrow and spreads to the blood. Once in the blood it can spread to the lymp nodes, spleen, liver, nervous system, and other organs. The cancer involves white blood cells but can be in other parts of the blood as well.
 * Bone marrow: is the spongy inner part of the bone. Bone marrow is where the different type blood cells are made. In children bone marrow is in every bone but in adults it is only in flat bones such as in the back, skull, shoulder blades, ribs, and pelvis. Bone marrow is made up of stem cells which are early blood cells that help blood cells grow. Stem cells mature to produce red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
 * red blood cells(carry oxygen to lungs), platelets(break off from stem cells to stop bleeding and bruises), and white blood cells(protects body from germs by fighting them off).
 * types of luekemia:
 * acute lymphocytic=accounts for 3/4 of leukemia cases in children and starts in lymphoid cells in the bone marrow
 * acute mylegenous=accounts for the other fourth...starts in cells that form red blood cells and white blood cells
 * hybrid=very rare=combination of the other two leukemias
 * luekemia:
 * most common cancer in children
 * cancer association expects about 2,600 cases in 2008
 * usually affects children within the ages of 2 and 4
 * risk factors/prevention:
 * radiation/chemicals can increase the chances
 * there is not a full on cause that anyone knows about
 * should have a yearly check up(this is how my brother found his leukemia)
 * but b/w symptoms you should look out for and see a doctor if these symptoms occur:
 * fatigue/paleness
 * infections/high fever
 * bone pain
 * swelling of the belly
 * loss of appetite/weight loss
 * swollen lymph nodes
 * coughing or trouble bleeding
 * swelling of face or arms
 * head ache seizures and vomitting
 * rashes/gum problems
 * treatment:
 * blood tranfusions
 * a venous access device is a tube that is inserted in the body so medicine can be given and blood can be drawn easily
 * radiation therapy kills cancerous blood cells
 * stem cell transplants