Leukemia
(cancer of the blood)
[Media UK, 1998] Leukaemia boy,11, dies after a final kiss from
mother
TOXIC OVERLOAD: BLOOD DISORDERS AND CANCERS RESULTING FROM EXPOSURE TO DRUGS,
CHEMICALS AND RADIATION by Edward Priestley http://www.vegan.swinternet.co.uk/articles/health/toxic_overload.html
It is estimated that there will be 28,700 new cases of leukemia in the
United States this year (1999)...Some 21,600 persons will die from leukemia this year in
the U.S http://www.leukemia.org/docs/leuk_rel/leukemia.html
The cause of leukemia is not known.
National Childhood Cancer society http://www.nccf.org/nccf/cancer/sndbites.html
Acute
80% of adult patients have one type of acute leukemia.
Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL/childhood leukemia/acute
lymphoblastic leukemia)
Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) will account for about 3,100 new cases of
leukemia this year. It is the most common form of the disease in children, with 1,300 new
cases among children each year (with) 1,300 deaths from acute lymphocytic leukemia. There
will be approximately 550 deaths from childhood leukemia in 1998. http://www.leukemia.org/docs/leuk_rel/leukemia.html
The overall five-year survival rate for children with acute lymphocytic
leukemia now is 80 percent. http://www.leukemia.org/docs/leuk_rel/leukemia.html
Drugs used: vincristine, prednisone, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide,
cytarabine
Di Mario FJ Jr 1990), Packer RJ Pediatrics 1990 Mar 85:3 353-60. Acute
mental status changes in children with systemic cancer.
Acute changes in mental status (AMS) develop in children with
cancer from a multitude of cancer- and treatment-related complications. To determine the
incidence, etiology, and outcome of children with cancer who had AMS, the medical records
of all children under 18 years of age with systemic cancer (excluding primary central
nervous system tumors) who had AMS in our institution during the years 1981 through 1987
were reviewed. AMS developed in 89 of 815 children at risk (11%). The AMS was caused by
seizures in 53 (60%), an encephalopathy in 24 (27%), and a stroke syndrome in 12 (13%).
AMS occurred in 42 of 305 (14%) with leukemia, 16 of 139 (12%) with lymphoma, 14 of 136
(10%) with sarcoma, 10 of 104 (9%) with neuroblastoma, and 7 of 104 (5%) with other
malignancies. Children with acute lymphocytic leukemia were more prone to having seizures
(61%), while children with nonacute lymphocytic leukemia were almost equally likely to
have encephalopathies, strokes, or seizures. Children with lymphoma were admitted for
treatment most often with an encephalopathy (44%). Etiologies for AMS were evaluated
vigorously, and one or more etiologies were identified in 80 of 89 (89%) patients.
Dependent on the type of tumor, the anticancer treatment used and, timing during the
course of illness AMS occurred, specific diagnoses were more likely. Neurologic morbidity
and mortality were dependent on the cause of AMS. Children with seizures that were
initially difficult to control were more likely to require long-term anticonvulsant
therapy.
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
St Judes figures (40-50% 5 year survival?): Although approximately 80 to
90 percent of children with AML attain a complete remission (absence of leukemic cells),
during initial phases of therapy, between 40 to 50 percent of children with AML achieve
long-term remissions with chemotherapy.http://www.stjude.org/medical/aml.htm
Riley LC, et al Treatment-related deaths during induction and first
remission of acute myeloid leukaemia in children treated on the Tenth Medical Research
Council Acute Myeloid Leukaemia Trial (MRC AML10). Br J Haematol. 1999 Aug;106(2):436-444.
[Record as supplied by publisher] PMID: 10460604.
Between 1988 and 1995, 341 children with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) were
treated on the Medical Research Council Acute Myeloid Leukaemia Trial (MRC AML10). The
5-year overall survival was 57%, much improved on previous trials. However, there were 47
deaths (13.8%), 11 of which were associated with bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The
treatment-related mortality was significant at 13.8%, but decreased in the latter half of
the trial from 17.8% in 1998-91 to 9.6% in 1992-95 (P = 0.03%). The main causes of death
were infection (65.9%), haemorrhage (19.1%) and cardiac failure (19.1%). Fungal infection
was a significant problem, causing 23% of all infective deaths. Haemorrhage occurred early
in treatment, in children with initial white cell counts >100 x 109/l (P = 0.001), and
was more common in those with M4 and M5 morphology. Cardiac failure only occurred from the
third course of chemotherapy onwards, with 78% (7/9) in conjunction with sepsis as a
terminal event. Some deaths could be prevented by identifying those most at risk, and with
prompt recognition and aggressive management of complications of treatment. Future options
include the prophylactic use of antifungal agents, and the use of cardioprotectants or
alternatives to conventional anthracyclines to decrease cardiac toxicity. PMID: 10460604 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=10460604&form=6&db=m&Dopt=b
St Judes