Leukemia help!?

A 15 year old girl I know has just been diagnosed with leukemia...She was feeling really sick on saturday so they took her to the doctor and that's when they found out. Do you have any clue how far along it would have to be for her to be feeling so sick? She could pull out of this and be pefectly fine & live a long life, right?

It really depends on what type of leukemia she has. A-L-L (acute lymphoma leukemia) can take up to a year to detect. A-M-L (acute myeloid leukemia) can be much quicker, usually about 1 month or less to find out. That's because it's a very rapid growing cancer of the blood. She can pull through this, however it will be a very long, hard fight! She will need her friends through out this night mare. Treat her the same, don't abandon her , don't treat her like you might catch it from her (you won't). She needs lots of friends to keep her spirits up and to help her stay positive and see the light at the end of a very dark tunnel.

Rachael,
Your very welcome! If you have any other questions please contact me. I would love to help you & your friend through this. I didn't answer for points, I answered because I know how scary this is and I just wanted to help! Good luck to your friend!
Teresa Report It

Leukemia is a strong strong cancer. But most young people with it do survive now-it didnt used to be that way. New medications and treatments do make it so that most survive. I hope your friend is one of them.

Leukemia* is a malignant disease (cancer) of the bone marrow and blood. It is characterized by the uncontrolled accumulation of blood cells. Leukemia is divided into four categories: myelogenous or lymphocytic, each of which can be acute or chronic. The terms myelogenous or lymphocytic denote the cell type involved. Thus, the four major types of leukemia are:

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Acute Myelogenous Leukemia
Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
Acute leukemia is a rapidly progressing disease that results in the accumulation of immature, functionless cells in the marrow and blood. The marrow often can no longer produce enough normal red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Anemia, a deficiency of red cells, develops in virtually all leukemia patients. The lack of normal white cells impairs the body's ability to fight infections. A shortage of platelets results in bruising and easy bleeding.


Chronic leukemia progresses more slowly and allows greater numbers of more mature, functional cells to be made.

The most common form of leukemia among children under 19 years of age is ALL. The incidence of ALL among 1- to 4-year-old children is more than 9 times greater than the rate for young adults ages 20-24.
There is optimism within centers that specialize in the treatment of children because survival statistics have dramatically improved over the past 30 years. Most children under 15 with ALL are cured.

The relative five-year survival rate has more than tripled in the past 46 years for patients with leukemia. In 1960-63, when compared to a person without leukemia, a patient had a 14 percent chance of living five years. By 1975-77, the five year relative survival rate had jumped to 35 percent, and in 1996-2002 the overall relative survival rate was nearly 49 percent. The relative survival rates differ by the age of the patient at diagnosis, gender, race and type of leukemia.

I am 26 and I was diagnosed with leukemia at age 12. I won't lie, it took three years for me to finish treatment completely. There was a lot of chemotherapy involved and radiation treatments. I ended up having to have a bone marrow transplant b/c my body was resistant to the first rounds of chemo. I almost died. I thank God for every breath I take b/c I know I was one of the lucky ones.

Today I am a healthy adult. I still suffer from some of the side effects of the medications (I have a hip replacement b/c of the bone degeneration in my hip due to some the meds). I will never be able to naturally have children. But, I am happy, healthy, and I have all my hair so I am content. As long as I continue to take care of my body (eat right, don't smoke) I'll have a long life ahead of me.

With the proper treatment, the outlook for kids who are diagnosed with leukemia is quite good. Some forms of childhood leukemia have a remission rate of up to 90%; all children then require regular maintenance chemotherapy and other treatment to continue to be cancer-free. Overall cure rates differ depending on the specific features of a child's disease. Most childhood leukemias have very high remission rates. And the majority of children can be cured - meaning that they are in permanent remission - of the disease.

I wish your friend well, and if you are worried then a chat with your parents and friends could put your mind at ease and stop you worrying so much because your friend will need your support during the chemo treatment.

Here is where you'll find the best info:
http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/hm_lls
Best wishes