Decoration is an essential experience for everyone who moves to a new home, but there is a popular saying in the circle of friends that leukemia in children is caused by decoration. Leukemia is a malignant proliferative disease and one of the diseases that seriously threatens the lives and health of children. Is this true?
[What are the causes of leukemia]
1. Virus factor
This is currently the most recognized cause of leukemia. However, the virus mentioned here refers to nuclear viruses or C-type RNA tumor viruses parasitic in human hematopoietic cells, not the influenza viruses or myocarditis viruses commonly known by people.
Because there is a mechanism in the human body to control this type of C-type RNA virus, it cannot cause illness. If the control system of the human body is out of balance, this tumor virus can transform hematopoietic cells into leukemia cells and cause leukemia. This virus has now been isolated and can be detected.
Many people working in the automotive parts factory have leukemia.
2. Radiation factor
It was first discovered that people working in radiation-related jobs (radiologists without protection) and non-leukemia patients who received radiation therapy for diseases such as spondylitis were prone to leukemia. It is a common cause of leukemia.
The incidence of leukemia in survivors of the atomic bomb explosion in Japan is higher than that in other cities, and it reaches its peak 5 years after the explosion. This is because radiation causes malignant changes in human hematopoietic cells.
3. Genetic factor
Some people have conducted family investigations of leukemia and found that if one person in a monozygotic twin has leukemia, the chance of the other person having leukemia is 5 times higher than that of ordinary people, and the incidence rate is 12 times higher than that of dizygotic twins. This shows that the cause of leukemia is related to genetics, and it is believed that certain genetic materials have mutated and caused leukemia.
However, it cannot be assumed that if one family member has leukemia, other members will also get the disease.
[Is childhood leukemia caused by decoration]
In summary, regarding the proposition of whether childhood leukemia is directly related to decoration, we currently only have evidence to show that indoor pollution, including formaldehyde pollution from decoration materials and radiation pollution from natural stone, are carcinogens.
Decoration does have certain harm to children, so when decorating a house, it is still necessary to consider the children and ventilate more. But in everything, we should pay attention to evidence and not listen and believe blindly.
Last year, Harvard University reported that long-term use of pesticides at home may significantly increase the probability of childhood leukemia and lymphoma.
Of course, since the relationship between benzene and its derivatives in decoration materials and cancer has been confirmed, decoration pollution is indeed a risk and should be avoided. However, it cannot be rashly concluded that leukemia is caused by decoration pollution in a specific person.
[Diet taboos for childhood leukemia]
1. Leukemia patients with fever should avoid spicy and greasy foods, such as chili, ginger, fatty meat, alcohol, etc.
2. In addition, in medical terms, leukemia patients should not have low blood selenium levels. Stable blood selenium levels in patients help control the condition and reduce the risk of deterioration. Selenium supplementation for patients must be efficient and sufficient.
3. Leukemia patients who are physically weak should avoid foods that are not easy to digest, such as fried meats, cured meats, dried fish, rice cakes, and leeks.
4. Leukemia patients should avoid cold foods such as cold water, cold dishes, lettuce, apricots, etc., and should avoid overeating and excessive drinking, as well as oily, fishy, and fried foods.
5. If there are also stomach problems, avoid eating stimulating foods. If there is diarrhea, avoid eating cold melons and fruits. If there is insomnia, avoid drinking strong tea and eating too much for dinner.
