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What is Leukemia? |
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Symptoms
Leukemia is a malignancy in the body tissues which are responsible for the formation of bleed cells, such as the bone marrow and the lymph nodes, although the condition usually begins with the white blood cells. Leukemia is classified into two main types, four subtypes, and numerous other variations, and the symptoms for these differ widely. However, some indications are common to all of them, including flu-like fevers, feebleness and an increased susceptibility to infection. A person with leukemia may also lose weight as a result of a constant loss of appetite, and may bruise or bleed easily. The bones can be tender and painful at times, and the patient tends to tire easily. Visible indications of leukemia involve inflamed lymph nodes, red spotting on the skin, and a larger-than usual liver or spleen.
Causes
The first type of leukemia is indicated by the speed of its development. Acute leukemia involves immature blood cells, those which don’t develop but multiply at a rapid pace, and since these cannot properly perform their function, the condition worsens quickly. In chronic leukemia, the blood cells are more matured, but are ultimately undeveloped; these multiply or build at a slower pace, and may even perform their function for a certain period. The second type is determined by which kind of white blood cell is afflicted by the condition. Lymphocytic leukemia afflicts the lymphocytes, a main component of the body’s immune system, and may spread throughout various parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes and the tonsils. Myelogenous leukemia afflicts the myeloid cells, components from which the red and white blood cells and the platelets develop.
Diagnosis
Chronic leukemia is commonly detected with routine blood testing, even prior to the development of any symptoms. The outward appearance of a person can also show telltale signs of the condition, as a doctor discovers during a physical exam – pale skin and inflamed lymph nodes are usually indicative of the disease. The patient may also undergo a procedure called immunophenotyping, wherein the increase in lymphocytes is identified as either a cause of a reactive process or as a reaction to an infection. Mutations in the patient’s chromosomes may also be identified through cytogenetic analysis, or the doctor may specifically look for leukemia cells in a bone marrow sample.
Treatment Info
Leukemia is a malignancy, but it differs from the other forms of cancer since it doesn’t involve a solid mass which the doctor can extract through surgery; as such, the treatment for the condition can be very complicated, and will depend on the patient’s age and health status, and if the condition has moved on to other areas of the body. Chemotherapy is usually the first line of treatment, employing chemical agents to destroy the leukemia cells. The body’s immune reaction to the malignancy may be boosted through biological therapy. X-rays may also be employed to stunt the growth of leukemia cells, and the diseased bone marrow of the patient may be replaced with healthy ones through a transplant.
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