“When do you usually find out your child has leukemia?”

The red blood cells is taken and the leukemic cells are analyze with histochemical analysis and in the microscope. Children with leukemia may get more viral or bacterial infections than other kids. This is because their white blood cells can’t fight infection efficiently. The get anemia that needs to be monitored because the red blood cells become low in number. The leukemia and or lymphoma may be at risk for then to present with fatigue, growth delay, thyroid dysfunction, hearing loss and development of secondary cancer. Children with leukemia have up to 90% survival rate with many going on to live a happy and productive live. Most kids are cured of the disease. The most fatal type of leukemia is Acute Myeloid Leukemia. The five-year survival rate is 29.5%. Leukemia is a cancer that usually affects the white blood cells. The leukemia and or lymphoma may be at risk for then to present with fatigue, growth delay, thyroid dysfunction, hearing loss and development of secondary cancer. Thank you.

The consequences of anemia (pale, listless, irritable), low granulocyte count (infection fever) or low platelet count (bleeding or small hemorrhages under skin) singly or in combination, usual point to the diagnosis.

It can vary. I've seen it from elementary kids to young adults. Parent may bring in the child for non-specific symptoms such as tiredness. Doctor runs bloodwork and will note a significant abnormality. Then, the child is referred to a hematologist for a bone marrow exam.

RB Thomas, MD