Leukemia is cancer of the blood cells. It is a group of cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and result in high numbers of abnormal white blood cells. These white blood cells are not fully developed and are called blasts or leukemia cells. Symptoms may include bleeding and bruising problems, feeling tired, fever, and an increased risk of infections. These symptoms occur due to a lack of normal blood cells. Diagnosis is typically made by blood tests or bone marrow biopsy.
A risk factor is anything that raises your chance of getting a disease. Risk factors for some types of leukemia include Smoking and tobacco use,Being exposed to large amounts of radiation ,Being exposed to certain chemicals in the workplace and Past chemotherapy or radiation for another cancer.
Symptoms of Leukemia depend on how much the cancer has grown and may include:
- Fevers and night sweats.
- Frequent or unusual infections.
- Bruising of the skin and bleeding from the gums or rectum.
- Bone pain.
- Swelling in the belly or pain on the left side of the belly or radiating pain in the left shoulder from a swollen spleen.
- Decreased appetite and weight loss because you feel full and don't want to eat.
Types of Leukemia
Chronic Leukemia : In this type there is excessive build up of relatively mature, but still abnormal, white blood cells. It takes months or years to progress. The cells are produced at a much higher rate than normal, resulting in many abnormal white blood cells. Chronic forms are sometimes monitored for some time before treatment to ensure maximum effectiveness of therapy. Chronic leukemia mostly occurs in older people, but can theoretically occur in any age group. People may not have any symptoms at first. Doctors often find chronic leukemia during a routine checkup - before there are any symptoms. Slowly, chronic leukemia gets worse. As the number of leukemia cells in the blood increases, people get symptoms, such as swollen lymph nodes or infections. When symptoms do appear, they are usually mild at first and get worse gradually.
Acute Leukemia:Acute Leukemia is characterized by a rapid increase in the number of immature blood cells. Excess number of such cells makes it impossible for the bone marrow to produce healthy blood cells. Immediate treatment is required in acute leukemia due to the rapid progression and accumulation of the malignant cells, as they can spill over into the bloodstream and spread to other organs of the body. Acute forms of leukemia are the most common forms of leukemia in children.
The types of leukemia also can be grouped based on the type of blood cell that is affected. Leukemia can start in lymphoid cells or myeloid cells. Leukemia affecting lymphoid cells is called lymphocytic or lymphoblastic leukemia. They fight the infection fighting immune system cells. Leukemia affecting the myeloid cells is called as myelogenous or myeloid leukemia. These affect the cells that form the red blood cells or platelets.
Diagnosis of Leukemia
Physical Examination :The Doctor checks for swollen lymph nodes, spleen, or liver.
Blood Tests: The lab does a complete blood count to check the number of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. Leukemia causes a very high level of white blood cells. It may also cause low levels of platelets and hemoglobin, which is found inside red blood cells.
Biopsy:The Doctor removes tissue to look for cancer cells. A biopsy is the only sure way to know whether leukemia has infected other organs.Before the sample is taken, local anesthesia is used to numb the area.
Bone Marrow Aspiration: The Doctor uses a thick, hollow needle to remove samples of bone marrow.
Cytogenetics : The Lab looks at the chromosomes of cells from samplesof blood, bone marrow, or lymph nodes. If abnormal chromosomes are found, the test can show what type of leukemia you have.
Spinal Tap : Your Doctor may remove some of the cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid that fills the spaces in and around the brain and spinal cord). The doctor uses a long, thin needle to remove fluid from the lower spine. The lab checks the fluid for leukemia cells or other signs of problems.
Chest X-Ray :An X-Ray can show swollen lymph nodes or other signs of disease in your chest.
Treatment of Leukemia at Super Speciality Hospitals in India
Chemotherapy :Chemotherapy may be given as pills or by injection. Chemotherapy drugs interfere with the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread, but they also damage healthy cells. Although healthy cells can recover over time, you may experience side effects from your treatment like nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fatigue, hair loss and an increased risk of infection.
Radiation Therapy :t uses high doses of radiation, such as X-rays, to destroy cancer cells. Radiation is usually given from a machine outside the body that directs radiation to the cancer (external radiation). Radiation is also used to treat acute leukemia that has spread to the brain and spinal cord.
Stem Cell Transplant :Some people with leukemia receive a stem cell transplant. A stem cell transplant allows you to be treated with high doses of drugs, radiation, or both. The high doses destroy both leukemia cells and normal blood cells in the bone marrow. Before high-dose chemotherapy is given, stem cells will be taken from you or from a donor whose bone marrow is a close match to your own. Soon after the chemotherapy treatment, the stem cells are put back into your blood. Within a few weeks, the new stem cells will start to make blood cells.
Biological Therapy :Biological therapy uses your immune system to fight cancer or to help control side effects of other cancer treatments. Natural body substances or drugs made from natural body substances are used to boost the body’s own defences against illness.
Targeted Therapy :Targeted therapies use drugs that attack specific types of cancer cells without damaging healthy cells. Cancer growth inhibitors are a type of targeted therapy.
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