About this topic
Leukemia is a kind of blood cancer. Your blood is made in the middle of your bones. This place is called your bone marrow. Blood is made of 3 kinds of cells. ‚
- White blood cells ¢ ˆ ’ Fights germs and illnesses
- Red blood cells ¢ ˆ ’ Carries oxygen throughout the body and makes blood red
- Platelets ¢ ˆ ’ Helps the body fight bleeding
The most common type of childhood leukemia affects the part of the white blood cell called the lymphocytes. These are a kind of white blood cell. They cannot fight germs or infections the same as mature, healthy white blood cells. They increase quickly in the bone marrow and take up space meant for normal blood cells. They also spill out into the bloodstream and affect the whole body. When the bone marrow makes the abnormal cells, it does not make the blood cells the body needs. This causes signs. ‚
This type of cancer gets worse quickly if not treated. Treatment most often includes chemo, radiation therapy, and transplant. ‚
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do to care for your child.
- Your doctor will give your child drugs for many things. You may find it helpful to use a small notebook to write down the drugs and other important information. A daily pillbox may also help. Make sure to give your child all the drugs ordered by the doctor.
- Ask your doctor what side effects to expect from treatment, such as hair loss, bleeding, and infections.
- Your child will have blood counts checked often. Your child may need blood or platelet transfusions throughout the course of treatment or after transplant. Since platelets may become low, have your child blow the nose and brush teeth very gently to avoid bleeding.
- Your child may need a special catheter or I.V. to get chemo. If so, learn how to care for it. Be sure to keep the catheter site covered as ordered.
- Protect your child and your family from germs.
- Wash your hands often. Teach your child to always wash hands before eating, after using the bathroom, and after touching pets. Use soap and water for at least 15 seconds, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers also work to kill germs.
- Teach your child to cover mouth and nose with tissue when coughing or sneezing. Your child can also cough into the elbow. Have your child throw away tissues in the trash and wash hands after touching used tissues.
- Teach your child to not get too close (kissing, hugging) to people who are sick.
- Teach your child to not share towels or hankies with anyone who is sick.
- Keep your child away from crowded places.
- Join a support group if you are comfortable with this. It can help you cope with your childs illness.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your childs condition needs close monitoring. The doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your child's progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- Your child's doctor will tell you if other tests are needed.
- Ask the doctor before you take your child to a dentist. There are special steps to take before your child can have any dental procedures.
- The doctor may send your child to a physical therapist or a rehab center.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling
- Kill leukemia cells or stop them from growing
- Help your childs body make new blood cells
- Prevent infection
- Help with the side effects of chemo drugs. These may help with throwing up, loose stools, itching, and more.
- Help your child's body take in the new transplanted cells
Will physical activity be limited?
- Rest is important. Your childs activity level will be based on the procedure or treatment. Talk to your doctor about the right amount of activity for your child. Ask your doctor when your child can go back to normal activities like daycare or school.
- Have your child sleep when feeling tired.
What changes to diet are needed?
- Give your child small meals often during the day.
- Encourage your child to take sips of water. This will help to replace lost fluids from throwing up and loose stools. This may be easier than drinking large amounts at one time.
- The doctor may order nutrition supplements to help keep your childs fluids up.
- If your child has trouble swallowing, eating soft foods and soups may be easier.
- Give your child foods that are well-cooked. Check the foods before giving them to your child. Make sure they are properly cooked.
- Do not give your child foods that have been refrigerated for more than 2 days.
- Wash fruits and vegetables well before giving them to your child. Avoid raw sprouts.
What problems could happen?
- Too much bleeding
- Infections
- Need for blood or platelet transfusion
- Your child may not be able to have babies. This is called infertility.
- Cancer comes back
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, very bad sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, more sputum or change in color of sputum, pain with passing urine, mouth sores, wound that will not heal, or anal itching or pain.
- Sudden breathing problems
- Throwing up that is not helped by drugs
- Skin changes like rashes and yellowish skin
- Sudden chest pain or chest pain with coughing
- Blood in the urine or coughing up blood
- Your child is not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or is feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you about your child. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my childs condition.
- I can tell you how to protect my child from germs.
- I can tell you what changes I need to make with my child's diet, drugs, or activities.
- I can tell you what I will do if my child has a fever, trouble breathing, throwing up, or changes to the urine.
Where can I learn more?
American Cancer Society ‚
http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/LeukemiainChildren/index ‚
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/cancer/cancer_leukemia.html ‚
National Cancer Institute ‚
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/childALL/patient/ ‚
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/childAML/patient/ ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚