Bone marrow produces the red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells in our body. Inside the marrow, blood cells start off as young, immature cells called stem cells. Leukemia is cancer of the body’s blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system. Leukemia usually involves the white blood cells. Your white blood cells are potent infection fighters and they normally grow and divide in an orderly way, as your body needs them. But in people with leukemia, the bone marrow produces abnormal (very great or very less) white blood cells, which don’t function properly.

A child’s age at the time of their illness can impact how they respond throughout their life after completing leukemia treatment. Fear of relapse (worsen/weaken)  is common in both those who have had leukemia and their families.

Having leukemia as a child can end up having a meaningful impact on a person’s life.

Having a life-threatening illness like leukemia as a child can have a lasting impact on both the child and family. A child’s behaviour and emotional health can influence how well they cope in the long run. Also age makes a difference, depending on that child’s age of diagnosis, current age, gender, and the life transitions they experience as a survivor.

Leukemia may be diagnosed incidentally during a physical exam or as a result of routine blood testing. If a person appears pale, has enlarged lymph nodes, swollen gums, an enlarged liver or spleen, significant bruising, bleeding, fever, persistent infections, fatigue, or a small pinpoint rash, the doctor should suspect leukemia. A blood test showing an abnormal white cell count may suggest the diagnosis. To confirm the diagnosis and identify the specific type of leukemia, a needle biopsy and aspiration of bone marrow from a pelvic bone will need to be done to test for leukemic cells, DNA markers, and chromosome changes in the bone marrow.

Leukemia affects the circulatory system, nervous system, the lymphatic system and organs as well. Lymphocytic leukemia. This type of leukemia affects the lymphoid cells (lymphocytes), which form lymphoid or lymphatic tissue. Lymphatic tissue makes up your immune system. This is the evidence that leukemia affects the lymphatic system.

There are stem cell transplants for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. It is the only transplant available and useful in the case of leukemia. And chemotherapy is also used in treatment of leukemia. In chemotherapy scientists have invented new chemo drugs such as Clofarabine and Nelarabine.

Many children suffer from Leukemia and their parents should encourage their kids to spend time with friends, exploring interests or hobbies. Support them in developing interests and participating in activities to meet others. Teach your child how to discuss any late effects they are experiencing with others (if they want peers, educators, or teammates to know about them). What is important is that your child accepts that their cancer is part of their identity.

Although the quantity and the quality of health economic and quality-of-life evidence have substantially increased, there is still a need for studies that take a patient or societal perspective. Factors that influence costs and the quality of life of patients seem to be well-established.

One of the major costs of cancer is cancer treatment. But lack of health insurance and other barriers to health care prevent many Americans from getting optimal health care. According to the US Census Bureau, about 28 million people (9%) in the US were uninsured in 2016. The percentage of uninsured ranged from 3% in Massachusetts to 17% in Texas. And according to Cancer Facts & Figures 2018, “Uninsured patients and those from many ethnic minority groups are substantially more likely to be diagnosed with cancer at a later stage, when treatment can be more extensive, costlier, and less successful.”