Leukemia – A Cancer of the Blood
Leukemia Is a Cancer Of, but all have the same general symptoms. Leukemia can affect the Blood, Bone marrow, Spinal cord, or Brain. Treatment options will depend on the type of leukemia and the patient’s age and health. Acute leukemia is treated quickly and the goal of therapy is to put the patient into remission, a condition in which there are no visible symptoms of leukemia cells and the body returns to normal. Following remission, the patient receives consolidation therapy.
Blood
The cancer of the blood, known as leukemia, is characterized by the rapid, uncontrolled growth of abnormal white blood cells (WBCs) in the bone marrow. The marrow is the soft center of some bones. Normal blood cells are made in this area, and the cells of the bone marrow are responsible for blood production. Leukemia affects the production of these cells, which develop into abnormal white blood cells. While they don’t form a mass, the cancer cells multiply rapidly and crowd out normal blood cells.
Blood cancers are classified according to where they start. In the bone marrow, they begin. The cells produce excessive numbers of abnormal white blood cells, which then enter the bloodstream. Leukemia affects both men and women, and it is more common in men than in women. Childhood leukemia accounts for 25 percent of all cancers in children. However, there is no single cause of leukemia.
Leukemia symptoms can mimic other conditions, including common colds and flu. Leukemia symptoms include frequent infections and fatigue. Children with low white blood cell counts may also experience frequent chest infections. Because of the decreased ability of white blood cells to fight infections, kids with leukemia may have low levels of hemoglobin. If left untreated, leukemia can spread to the brain and lymph nodes in the chest. As a result, symptoms of leukemia include chest pain and breathing difficulties.
The treatment options for leukemia are varied, ranging from active surveillance without cancer-directed therapy, to chemotherapy, targeted agents, and immunotherapies. Yale Medicine has specialists who specialize in blood cancers and review challenging cases during tumor boards. These physicians have experience treating patients with blood cancers, and can use their expertise to treat all types. The most important treatment options are discussed in person. You can learn more about leukemia by contacting a cancer care center near you.
Bone marrow
People who are at high risk for leukemia usually have some form of the disease in their family history. Other risk factors include high-dose radiation and age. If you have any of these factors, you should talk to your doctor. In addition to these risk factors, there are several other possible factors that increase your risk of leukemia. Listed below are some of these risk factors. Read about them to determine if you might be at risk.
The most common type of leukemia is acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which affects children and teenagers. However, people of any age can develop the disease. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia affects children more than any other type of leukemia. Leukemia affects both children and adults and has several different types. Children may show symptoms of chronic leukemia, whereas adults might have just one type of the disease.
A complete blood count and microscopic evaluation of the blood can help the doctor make a diagnosis. A bone marrow biopsy, on the other hand, is a relatively noninvasive test that removes a small piece of bone marrow. The results from this test will help determine whether your body is producing normal blood cells. Patients may also have other types of cancer, such as lymphoma, in the other parts of their bodies.
Myeloid stem cells in the bone marrow are responsible for making your blood. These cells are called myoblasts and mature into granulocytes, monocytes, and platelets. While they help in fighting infection, the leukemia cells are not capable of doing their jobs properly. As a result, they will accumulate in other areas of your body, including your spleen, lymph nodes, and liver.
Brain
If you have leukemia, you may have symptoms of this cancer. This cancer spreads throughout the body and can invade the brain. It may build up in the cerebrospinal fluid or take up residence in the actual brain. If you have symptoms of this cancer, you may be suffering from weakness, headaches, or facial numbness. People who have the disease may also develop seizures. Treatment may include surgery or a combination of surgery and chemotherapy.
The cause of brain cancer is unknown, but long-term exposure to ionizing radiation or other chemicals can lead to this condition. Genetically inherited diseases such as von Hippel-Lindau disease can also cause it. About three out of every five people who develop a brain tumor are male. They tend to develop it during the early or middle stages of adulthood, but can occur at any age.
A biopsy is an important way to confirm the diagnosis. A biopsy allows the doctor to identify the type of brain tumor and determine if it is malignant. The tumor is removed and analyzed under a microscope. Some patients may experience improvements in their symptoms after surgery. A biopsy can also be done during a surgery if the cancer is too large or has spread to critical areas of the brain. Some cancers in the brain can’t be accessed safely with the three-dimensional needle technique. During this procedure, doctors use special imaging equipment to guide the needle’s placement and draw cells into it.
Chemotherapy will be given to the patient throughout the course of treatment. The treatment will involve chemotherapy injected into the cerebrospinal fluid or given through the intravenous route. This may also be used in conjunction with radiation therapy for the brain. The most effective chemotherapy will kill any leukemia cells in the brain and reduce the chances of relapse. If the disease isn’t detected early, chemotherapy will need to be repeated.
Spinal cord
In addition to the common spinal tumors that affect the brain, people can also develop cancers of the spinal cord. These tumors are generally metastatic and form in the bony part of the spinal column. When spinal tumors are found, a healthcare provider may order a CT scan or MRI. These imaging tests help doctors see the spinal cord, surrounding nerves, and tumors. This information is crucial for diagnosis.
There are two types of spinal tumors: extradural and intramedullary. An intramedullary tumor develops inside the spinal cord, while an extradural tumor is outside the dura and vertebrae. In rare cases, both forms can be deadly. When you have spinal tumors, your doctor will want to remove them as quickly as possible, but they should not cause any other problems.
Your doctor may perform a lumbar puncture to check if leukemia has spread to the CSF surrounding the spinal cord and brain. During this test, a needle will be inserted into the lower back and draw out a sample of the CSF. Doctors will then look for leukemia cells in the CSF. Your doctor may administer anesthesia to help you feel more comfortable during the procedure. Having this information will allow the doctor to determine the proper treatment for your condition.
While this cancer can cause significant neurological damage, there are treatment options that may help you live a normal life despite your condition. Some treatments involve chemotherapy or surgery. In rare cases, surgery is necessary to relieve the pressure on the spinal cord and relieve the pressure. During treatment, you may be given physical therapy or radiation to regain your strength and ability to function independently. While the treatment options for leukemia are often limited, early diagnosis and treatment can improve your overall quality of life.
Blood stem cells
A leukemia stem cell transplant can help a leukemia patient regain healthy bone marrow. These cells are used to stimulate new bone marrow growth and re-establish a healthy immune system. A patient may be able to use frozen or stored stem cells during this transplant. To prepare for a leukemia stem cell transplant, the patient must undergo high-dose chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
A transplanted stem cell is a powerful treatment for leukemia. In this procedure, the patient receives a dose of medication derived from the stem cells of a donor. The transplanted stem cells travel to the bone marrow and begin making new blood cells. Most patients with leukemia will achieve complete remission. However, half will relapse. This is why it is important to have a matching stem cell donor.
When the bone marrow produces too many white blood cells, it creates a population of abnormal white blood cells called leukemia cells. The leukemia stem cells don’t die at the same time as the normal blood cells, and they begin crowding out healthy blood cells. The excess of leukemia stem cells leads to an accelerated rate of relapse. Research on this condition is focusing on discovering ways to eradicate the extra blood cells in patients with leukemia.
During the transplant process, patients may experience excessive bleeding. If they are susceptible to infections, the doctor may give them an intravenous drip of platelets to help with the blood clotting. Another side effect of leukemia stem cell transplant is graft failure. In this rare event, another stem cell transplant is needed. The patient may have to undergo transfusions in the months following the transplant.
