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Why
Chance?
We
had to find some
answers!
Acute Lymphoblastic
Leukemia
(also referred to as acute
lymphocytic leukemia)
Definition:
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
(ALL) is the most common form of
childhood cancer. It affects
lymphocytes, a class of white blood
cells. Leukemic cells accumulate in the
bone marrow, replace normal blood cells
and spread to the liver, spleen, lymph
nodes, central nervous system, kidneys
and gonads.
Incidence:
About 2,500 children are diagnosed each
year in the United States. Peak
incidence occurs from ages 3 to 5
years old.
Survival rates:
About 98 percent of children with newly
diagnosed ALL attain an initial
complete
remission (absence of leukemic cells) in
four to six weeks. At least 80 percent
of children are cured. If the child does
not have a relapse within three years
after therapy is stopped, the likelihood
of continued disease-free survival is
excellent.
Treatment:
Chemotherapy until complete remission is
achieved. Additional drugs are used to
kill any surviving malignant cells.
All chemotherapy is stopped after two to
three years of treatment. Bone marrow
transplantation is an option for very
high-risk cases or following
relapse.
Influencing factors:
ALL affects slightly more boys
than girls. It occurs more frequently
among whites than blacks.
No one can say for sure why Chance was
stricken with ALL. The reasons could
be a complex issue due to environment,
genetics and a multitude of many other factors. All unclear or unknown at this time.
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Keep the Faith Along with Chance!
Free counters provided by Honesty.com.
Updated July 29, 2000
for
Chance & Lilbossie
by
"Mom-Mom" mistamar2u
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