Blood cancer is a malignancy in the hematologic system and usually the infected are white blood cells. Blood cancer is usually experienced by children. Children suffering from cancer will experience different treatments with adults. They still need time to grow, learn and play. And with the advancement of cancer treatment, those who can survive from blood cancer have become adults. The state of health of these children will be different from normal people. Because since childhood they have been exposed to various blood cancer treatments. The following are some of the effects of blood cancer or problems of blood cancer and its treatment.
kieRisks of other types of cancer
In patients with blood cancer, the risk for other cancers increases. Treatment of one type of blood cancer, Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) has one serious side effect: increased risk of developing AML or Acute myeloid leukemia later in life. Both of these diseases together attack white blood cells. The difference is in the type of white blood cells that experience malignancy. In ALL, white blood cells that experience malignancy are white blood cells of lymphocytes whereas in AML, white blood cells that are malignant are precursors of white blood cells to white blood cells that have granules, namely eosinophils, basophils, neutrophils, and monocytes. All patients who receive epipodophyllotoxin (etoposide, teniposide) or alkylating agents (cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil) chemotherapy are at risk for cancer other than the initial cancer they undergo. However, this risk also depends on several factors such as type of blood cancer, type and dose of therapy received and age at receiving therapy.
kieHave heart and lung problems
Some chemotherapy and radiotherapy drugs in the chest area can cause problems in the heart and lungs in later life. The risk of someone who received chemotherapy and radiotherapy at a young age to the incidence of heart disease and stroke is quite high. It is common in children with ALL, so follow-up of heart and lung health is essential. Successful ALL patients tend to have more weight and high blood pressure, both of which are risk factors for heart disease. For that, need to be prevented by applying a healthy lifestyle so that heart problems can be avoided.
kieLearning problems
Therapy that includes radiation therapy in the head region will certainly result in the brain and its growth. In children, will likely experience learning disorders in school due to blood cancer therapy. Your doctor will adjust the dose given to the head to minimize the negative impact on the brain.
kieProblems with growth and development
If you suffer from cancer of the blood at a young age will certainly find a number of problems related to growth and development. Some cancer therapies can cause obstacles to the growth of the child which ultimately leads them to have a shorter body height than the other child. This situation will be more visible in patients who get stem cell transplant. This can be helped by giving growth hormone, if necessary.
kieFertility problems
Most chemotherapy drugs will also result in healthy cells including eggs and sperm cells in humans. Sterile effects or infertility also depend on after the woman or man when receiving the therapy and the dose of the drug given. Some drugs that have an effect on egg damage and infertility are:
- Busulfan
- Carboplatin
- Carmustine
- Chlorambucil
- Cisplatin
- Cyclophosphamide
- Dacarbazine
- Doxorubicin
- Ifosfamide
- Lomustine
- Mechlorethamine
- Melphalan
- Procarbazine
- Temozolomide
On the other hand some drugs that have a low risk of causing destruction of eggs and sperm cells are:
- 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU)
- Bleomycin
- Cytarabine
- Dactinomycin
- Daunorubicin
- Fludarabine
- Gemcitabine
- Idarubicin
- Methotrexate
- Vinblastin
- Vincristine
kieBone problems
In patients with blood cancer who received chemotherapy can experience bone damage or osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is bone loss can be caused by the use of steroids given to reduce excessive immune reactions as a function of blood. In addition, the bone will also be thinner because the bone marrow is the site of producing white blood precursor cells and red blood cells. If necessary in the beware of other cancers such as bone cancer.
kiePsychosocial problems
In blood cancer patients can face psychosocial barriers in the workplace and place of learning. Pediatric patients mainly experience greater impact. Because not only the patient, the parents who deliver the child for treatment can interfere with his job and even the termination of employment may occur.
In school-age blood cancers, it is better to allow children to attend school as often as possible. Because it can help children undergo daily activities and not sad due to share the difficulties he faced because of his illness. However, there are still constraints on the stigma of the general population in cancer patients. Ordinary so in school children with cancer even shunned and ridiculed. Therefore, it helps your child socialize with blood cancer survivor. you can find it through institutions that care about cancer in children. In the institution you can also get information from the experience of parents where the child has passed various stages of therapy. To find out more you can access the website of the Indonesian Child Cancer Institute.
kieEconomic Problems
Children suffering from cancer require more attention from their parents. Often parents have to leave work and take time to care for their children. This is coupled with medical expenses and transportation accommodation if the city of residence is different from the treatment center. Currently, the solution given by the government is national health insurance or JKN or BPJS. BPJS is an institution that is a third party that bridges the government with the people. This institution was only established in 2014 and is still improving to better serve the Indonesian people. As a good citizen, you are not registered as a participant of BPJS. Even if you do not need national health insurance, the fees you pay can help to alleviate the burdens of our sick and costly Indonesian children and siblings.
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