What You Need to Know About Leukemia

Leukemia is the most frequently diagnosed childhood cancer. In Türkiye, approximately 3,500 children are diagnosed with cancer each year, and about 35% of them are leukemia cases.

Leukemia is more common in children under the age of 10. Cancers of the blood are classified according to the growth rate and the type of blood cells involved. In childhood, the most common type is Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), which accounts for about 80% of pediatric leukemia cases. Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia (AML) makes up around 15%.

Symptoms of Leukemia

Parents should carefully observe their children. Common symptoms include:

• Anemia

• Easy fatigue

• Loss of appetite, paleness

• Shortness of breath, dizziness

• Frequent infections

• Bruising and gum bleeding

• Weight loss

• Enlarged lymph nodes

• Night sweats

• Abdominal swelling

Leukemia Treatment and Chemotherapy

The primary treatment for leukemia is chemotherapy. In fact, 80–90% of ALL cases can be treated successfully with chemotherapy alone.

In some high-risk cases, bone marrow (stem cell) transplantation is recommended. Donor stem cells can significantly increase survival rates. Awareness campaigns have led to an increase in stem cell donations, raising the chances of finding suitable donors.

Prevention and Awareness

 

Children should be protected from harmful risk factors such as smoking, radiation, chemicals, and unhealthy nutrition. Early diagnosis through regular check-ups saves lives.