Leukemia and Lymphoma

Cancer can affect all parts of the body, including the blood. Leukemia and lymphoma are types of blood cancer. Symptoms of leukemia and lymphoma Leukemia (Blood Cancer) can be either acute or chronic. In acute leukemia, the cancer spreads rapidly. Chronic leukemia grows slower at the beginning stages. There are various types of leukemia, each classified by the growth rate and origins of the cancer cells. These include: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML) Lymphoma specifically affects the lymph nodes. The type of lymphoma is based on the origins of the cancer cells. Some cases start in the lymphatic system, while others begin in the white blood cells. These cancers are also called Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas. They occur when T- or B-cells within white blood cells become abnormal.

Hemoglobinopathy is a group of disorders in which there is abnormal production or structure of the hemoglobin molecule. It is passed down through families (inherited). A hemoglobinopathy is a genetic disorder which alters the structure of hemoglobin. The result is reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood to the tissues, and other sequelae.

Paediatric Solid Tumors Solid tumor is a term used to describe many forms of cancer that can happen throughout the body. Some types of cancerous (malignant) tumors tend to occur in young children, and others occur in adolescents and young adults. Different tumor types tend to occur in particular body locations, leading to characteristic signs and symptoms, such as bone pain in children with bone tumors, or swelling in the abdomen in children with Wilms tumor or neuroblastoma. Some children may be very ill, and some children may not have any symptoms at all. Types of Solid Tumors 1. Wilms Tumor : Wilms tumor (also called Wilms’ tumor or nephroblastoma) is a type of childhood cancer that starts in the kidneys. It is the most common type of kidney cancer in children. About 9 of 10 kidney cancers in children are Wilms tumors. Cancer starts when cells in the body begin to grow out of control. Cells in nearly any part of the body can become cancer, and can spread to other areas of the body. To learn more about how cancers start and spread, see What Is Cancer? For information about the differences between childhood cancers and adult cancers, see Cancer in Children.