Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia from the Perspective of Immune Cells: A Book to Help Children Understand Cancer

Abstract

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is the most common type of childhood cancer. According to the American Cancer Society 3 out of 4 childhood leukemia cases are ALL, and the main treatment for these patients is chemotherapy. There are various tools that doctors and nurses use in order to effectively communicate with these young patients and their families about what this type of leukemia is, and what chemotherapy will do in order to help. There are children’s books on cancer, but they are mostly coping aids or answer general questions. My children’s e-book however invites the young reader (6 to 14-year-olds) into the world of immune cells, by following the life of a T-cell as he learns about his environment and how to interact with other immune cells to fight against ALL and protect their human. The reader also witnesses how the cells react to the chemotherapy, and their journey after treatment. My goal for this creative project is that it will serve as another educational tool for patients with ALL. Also, I hope that it inspires its audience and gets them excited about science. Even though this children’s book is written with scientific detail, the concepts are presented in a simple and attainable way, enabling my young audience to comprehend what ALL is, unlocking their perception towards the disease with this new approach.