Exercise Effects of Childhood Leukemia

Introduction

Leukemia is a cancer that affects bone marrow and damages the formation of blood cells, and it is the most common childhood cancer and accounts for 30% of all childhood malignancies (Amitay & Keinan-Boker, 2015). While there are several forms of childhood leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common and accounts for 26% of all childhood cancers (San Juan et al., 2007). There are approximately 3,000 children and young adults diagnosed with ALL yearly in the United States (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia 2019). Due to treatment improvements over the past decades, the cure rate is now at 70%, which has lead to a new awareness of the adverse effects associated with treatment (i.e., quality of life (QOL) and functional capacity) (Lucia, Ramirez, San Juan, Fleck, Garcia-Castro & Madero, 2005). Exercise has been shown to be a valuable tool for adults with and survivors of cancer, with additional research starting to look into the effect of exercise and children with cancer (Gocha Marchese, Chiarello & Lange, 2003; Lucía, Earnest & Pérez, 2003; Marchese, Chiarello & Lange, 2004). Therefore, the purpose of this brief review is to describe the role of aerobic and anaerobic exercise on improving the mortality, recurrence, and treatment-related adverse effects of childhood leukemia.Exercise Effects of Childhood Leukemia Paper

Mortality

Chemotherapy, radiation, and other methods of treatment have increased the survival rate of ALL to ~70% (Lucia, Ramirez, San Juan, Fleck, Garcia-Castro & Madero, 2005). Due to the aggressive protocol, 98% of patients diagnosed with ALL go into remission within weeks of the beginning of treatment. There is little research into how exercise impacts mortality and recurrence rates in ALL, however exercise has been shown to prevent or decrease the severity of the adverse effects of treatment (e.g., deconditioning, muscle weakness, reduced QOL). Although the survival rate of ALL is relatively high, the long-term effects of treatment may be detrimental. A 25 year follow up found that survivors were more likely to report poor general health and cardiovascular related ailments (e.g., congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest) (Mody et al, 2008). A well-regulated exercise program may prevent the onset of cardiovascular related illnesses.Exercise Effects of Childhood Leukemia Paper