Leucemia en niños y adolescentes

01 __________________________________________________________ [Image: A happy family enjoying a day at the park. Suddenly, the father collapses and is taken to the hospital.]

Recibido: September 14, 2021, Aceptado: May 13, 2022 [Image: medical documents]

[Image: Diagram of the bone marrow with a cell transforming into a CML cell]

Resumen: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a blood disease characterized by an abnormal increase in mature and immature white blood cells (leukocytosis) and the enlargement of the spleen (splenomegalia). During its evolution, it goes through three phases: the chronic phase, an accelerated phase, and the blastic crisis. In the chronic phase, the disease is relatively easy to control, but if treatment is not started on time, it can evolve into a more dangerous stage.

Key facts:

• CML is a blood cancer caused by a genetic translocation called the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) and the formation of the BCR/ABL1 hybrid gene.
• The chronic phase lasts for about 5 to 7 years and is characterized by leukocytosis and splenomegalia.
• The accelerated phase is a stage of transformation where the patient shows an intensification of symptoms and a rapid increase in white blood cells.
• The blastic crisis is the terminal phase of the disease, where the patient presents more than 20% of blast cells in their peripheral blood.
• The most common complications of CML are fatigue, weight loss, intolerance to effort, and anemia.
• The incidence of CML varies from 0.4 to 1.75 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, and there is a predominance in men.

In this comic strip, we follow the story of a man named Juan who is diagnosed with CML. In the chronic phase, he is treated with targeted therapy, and his symptoms are well controlled. However, he eventually relapses and enters the accelerated phase. Despite receiving intensive treatment, Juan eventually progresses to the blastic crisis and passes away. Through this story, we aim to raise awareness about the importance of early detection and treatment of CML.

[Image: Juan and his family at the hospital, with a doctor explaining the diagnosis and treatment options]

[Image: Juan receiving treatment, looking weak but determined]

[Image: Juan's condition worsening, with an increasing number of blast cells in his blood]

[Image: Juan passing away surrounded by his loved ones]

[Image: A reminder to get regular health check-ups and be aware of the symptoms of CML]

Palabras clave: LMC, t(9;22)(q34;q11), Ph, BCR/ABL1 transcript, molecular remission.

[Image: Diagram of the Ph chromosome and the formation of the BCR/ABL1 hybrid gene]

[Image: Juan's family holding a support group meeting for CML patients]

[Image: Juan's legacy, a reminder to never give up hope]

[Image: Resources for learning more about CML and supporting research]

[Image: Juan's family continuing to fight against CML, with a message of hope and solidarity]

[Image: A call to action to raise awareness about CML and support research and treatment]

[Image: Juan's story as a reminder to always prioritize health and well-being]

[Image: A final message of hope and encouragement]

[End of comics strip]

References:

1. National Cancer Institute. Chronic myeloid leukemia. 2022. https://www.cancer.gov/types/leukemia/patient/chronic-myeloid-treatment-pdq#_35
2. American Cancer Society. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). 2022. https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/CRC/PDF/Public/8514.00.pdf
3. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML). 2022. https://www.lls.org/content/dam/LLS/en/facts-about-blood-cancers/chronic-myeloid-leukemia-cml-facts-and-figures.pdf
4. American Society of Hematology. Chronic myeloid leukemia. 2021. https://www.hematology.org/patients/diseases/leukemia/chronic-myeloid-leukemia
5. National Marrow Donor Program. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). 2022. https://www.marrow.org/site/PageServer?pagename=patients_diseases_cml
6. World Health Organization. Chronic myeloid leukemia. 2022. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/leukaemia-chronic-myeloid
7. National Cancer Institute. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) statistics. 2022. https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/cml.html