WHAT IS LEUKEMIA?
Leukemia is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. The blood cells that are made in the bone marrow include the white blood cells (WBCs), red blood cells (RBCs), and platelets.
WHITE BLOOD CELLS (WBCS) WBCs, also called leukocytes , help to defend the body against infections. Infections can be caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The three different types of WBCs are lymphocytes, granulocytes, and monocytes. Lymphocytes are a type of WBC that develop from the lymphoid cell line and help to fight infections. The three types of lymphocytes are B lymphocytes (B cells), T lymphocytes (T cells), or natural killer cells (NK cells). B cells and T cells help the body by developing antibodies to fight infection. NK cells fight viruses and attack cancer cells. Granulocytes are a type of WBC that develop from the myeloid stem cell. They help destroy infections caused by bacteria. Monocytes are a third type of WBC that are related to granulocytes. Monocytes help fight against bacteria by surrounding and digesting them. They also help lymphocytes identify germs. RED BLOOD CELLS (RBCS) RBCs carry oxygen to all of the cells in the body. If the number of RBCs is low, a child may look pale and feel tired and have headaches, dizziness, or a fast heartbeat. The number of RBCs is measured by a blood test measuring the hemoglobin level. A low level of RBCs is called anemia. PLATELETS Platelets are the blood-clotting cells that are needed to stop bleeding and to form a clot. If the level of platelets in the blood is low, there is an increased chance of bleeding and bruising. A rash that looks like small red-purple freckles also may be seen. These freckles are called petechiae. A low level of platelets is called thrombocytopenia . Leukemia occurs as a result of abnormal growth of immature blood cells. These cells are called blast cells . These immature cells grow out of control, crowd out the normal cells (WBCs, RBCs, and platelets) in the bone marrow, and eventually spill out into the bloodstream. As a result, leukemia may be found in other parts of the body such as the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, central nervous system (which is the brain and spinal cord), testicles, skin, and other organs.
NORMAL
LEUKEMIA
RED BLOOD CELLS
PLATELETS
WHITE BLOOD CELLS
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Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON)
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