Description

Leukemia is a cancer of the blood from the body-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system.

Many types of leukemia exist. Some forms of leukemia more common in children. Other forms of leukemia occur mostly in adults.

Leukemia usually involves the white blood cells. Your white blood cells are potent infection fighters — they normally grow and divide in an orderly way, as your body needs. But in people with leukemia, the bone marrow produces an excessive amount of abnormal white blood cells, which do not function correctly.

Treatment for leukemia can be complex, depending on the type of leukemia and other factors. However, there are strategies and resources that can help make your treatment successful.

Symptoms

Leukemia symptoms vary, depending on the type of leukemia. Common leukemia signs and symptoms include:

  • Fever or chills
  • Persistent fatigue, weakness
  • Frequent or severe infections
  • Losing weight without trying
  • Swollen lymph nodes, enlarged liver or spleen
  • Easy bruising or bleeding
  • Recurrent nosebleeds
  • Small red spots on the skin (petechiae)
  • Excessive sweating, especially at night
  • Bone pain or tenderness

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any persistent signs or symptoms that worry you.

The symptoms of leukemia are often vague and non-specific. You can miss early symptoms of leukemia because they may resemble symptoms of the flu and other common illnesses.

Sometimes, the leukemia is discovered during a blood test for some other condition.

Causes

Scientists do not understand the exact causes of leukemia. It seems to develop from a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

How leukemia forms

In general, leukemia is thought to occur when some blood cells acquire changes (mutations) in their genetic material, or DNA. A cell's DNA contains the instructions that tell a cell what to do. Typically, the DNA tells the cell to grow at a set rate and to die at a set time. In leukemia, the mutations tell the blood cells to continue to grow and divide.

When this happens, the production of blood cells becomes out of control. Over time, these abnormal cells can crowd out healthy blood cells in the bone marrow, leading to fewer healthy white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets, causing the signs and symptoms of leukemia.

How leukemia is classified

Doctors classify the leukemia based on its speed of progression and the type of cells involved.

The first type of classification is by how quickly the leukemia progresses:

  • Acute leukemia. In acute leukemia, the abnormal blood cells are immature blood cells (blasts). They can't carry out their normal functions, and they multiply rapidly, so the disease worsens quickly. Acute leukemia requires aggressive, timely treatment.
  • Chronic leukemia. There are many types of chronic leukemias. Some produce too many cells and some cause too few cells to be produced. Chronic leukemia involves more mature blood cells. These blood cells replicate or accumulate more slowly and can work for a period of time. Some forms of chronic leukemia initially produce no early symptoms and can go unnoticed or undiagnosed for years.

The second type of classification is by type of white blood cell affected:

  • Lymphocytic leukemia. This type of leukemia affects the lymphoid cells (lymphocytes), which form lymphoid or lymphatic tissue. Lymphatic tissue makes up your immune system.
  • Myelogenous (my-uh-LOHJ-uh-nus) leukemia. This type of leukemia affects the myeloid cells. Myeloid cells give rise to red blood cells, white blood cells and platelet-producing cells.

Types of leukemia

The main types of leukemia are:

  • Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). This is the most common type of leukemia in young children. ALL can also occur in adults.
  • Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). AML is a common type of leukemia. Occurs in children and adults. AML is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults.
  • Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). With chronic lymphocytic leukemia , the most common chronic adult leukemia, you may feel well for years without treatment.
  • Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). This type of leukemia mainly affects adults. A person with cml may have few or no symptoms for months or years before entering a phase in which the leukemia cells grow more quickly.
  • Other types. Other, more rare types of leukemia exist, including hairy cell leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes and myeloproliferative disorders.

Risk factors

Factors that may increase your risk of developing some types of leukemia are:

  • Previous cancer treatment. People who have had certain types of chemotherapy and radiation therapy for other types of cancer have a higher risk of developing certain types of leukemia.
  • Genetic disorders. Genetic abnormalities appear to play a role in the development of leukemia. Certain genetic disorders, such as Down syndrome, are associated with an increased risk of leukemia.
  • Exposure to certain chemicals. Exposure to certain chemicals, such as benzene, found in gasoline and is used by the chemical industry — is linked to an increased risk of some types of leukemia.
  • The habit of smoking. Cigarette smoking increases the risk of acute myeloid leukemia.
  • The family history of leukemia. If the members of your family has been diagnosed with leukemia, your risk of the disease may be higher.

However, the majority of people with known risk factors do not get leukemia. And many people with leukemia have none of these risk factors.

Diagnosis

Doctors may find chronic leukemia in a routine blood test, before symptoms begin. If this happens, or if you have signs or symptoms that suggest leukemia, you may undergo the following diagnostic tests:

  • Physical exam. Your doctor will look for physical signs of leukemia, such as pale skin from anemia, swelling of the lymph nodes, and enlargement of the liver and the spleen.
  • Blood tests. When looking at a sample of your blood, your doctor can determine if you have abnormal levels of red or white blood cells or platelets — that may suggest leukemia. A blood test may also show the presence of leukemia cells, although not all types of leukemia because the leukemia cells that circulate in the blood. Sometimes the leukemia cells stay in the bone marrow.
  • Examination of bone marrow. Your doctor may recommend a procedure to remove a sample of bone marrow from the hip bone. The bone marrow is extracted using a long, thin needle. The sample is sent to a laboratory to look for leukemia cells. Specialized tests of their leukemia cells can reveal certain characteristics that are used to determine your treatment options.

Treatment

The treatment for leukemia depends on many factors. Your doctor determines your treatment options based on your age and general health, the type of leukemia you have, and whether it has spread to other parts of the body, including the central nervous system.

Common treatments used to combat leukemia, which include:

  • Chemotherapy.Chemotherapy is the main form of treatment for leukemia. This drug treatment uses chemicals to kill the leukemia cells. Depending on the type of leukemia you have, you may receive a single drug or a combination of drugs. These medicines come in pill form, or they can be injected directly into a vein.
  • The targeted therapy. Targeted drug treatments focus on specific abnormalities present within cancer cells. By blocking these abnormalities, targeted drug treatments can cause cancer cells to die. Their leukemia cells will be tested to see if the targeted therapy may be useful to you.
  • The radiation therapy.Radiation therapy uses X-rays or other high-energy rays to damage leukemia cells and stop their growth. During radiation therapy, you lie on a table while a large machine moves around you, the direction of the radiation to precise points on your body. You may receive radiation in a specific area of your body where there is a collection of leukemia cells, or you may receive radiation throughout the body. Radiation therapy can be used to prepare for a bone marrow transplant.
  • Bone marrow transplant.A bone marrow transplant, also called a stem cell transplant, helps restore the healthy stem cells by replacing unhealthy bone marrow with free of leukemia stem cells that regenerate healthy bone marrow. Before a bone marrow transplant, you receive very high doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy to destroy their leukemia-the production of the bone marrow. You will then receive an infusion of blood-forming stem cells that help to rebuild the bone marrow. You can receive stem cells from a donor, or you may be able to use their own stem cells.
  • Immunotherapy. Immunotherapy uses your immune system to fight cancer. From your body to fight off diseases immune system will not attack the cancer because the cancer cells produce proteins that help to hide from the immune system cells. Immunotherapy works by interfering with that process.
  • Engineering of cells of the immune system to fight against leukemia. A specialized treatment called chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy takes your body the seed of the fight against T-cells, the engineers of them to fight against the cancer and infused into the body. CAR -T cell therapy could be an option for certain types of leukemia.
  • Clinical trials. Clinical trials are experiments to test new treatments for cancer and new ways of using existing treatments. While the clinical trials give you or your child with an opportunity to test the new developments in the treatment of cancer, the benefits of treatment and risks may be uncertain. Discuss the benefits and risks of clinical trials with their physician.

Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is the main form of treatment for leukemia. This drug treatment uses chemicals to kill the leukemia cells.

Depending on the type of leukemia you have, you may receive a single drug or a combination of drugs. These medicines come in pill form, or they can be injected directly into a vein.

The radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses X-rays or other high-energy rays to damage leukemia cells and stop their growth. During radiation therapy, you lie on a table while a large machine moves around you, the direction of the radiation to precise points on your body.

You may receive radiation in a specific area of your body where there is a collection of leukemia cells, or you may receive radiation throughout the body. Radiation therapy can be used to prepare for a bone marrow transplant.

Bone marrow transplant. A bone marrow transplant, also called a stem cell transplant, helps restore the healthy stem cells by replacing unhealthy bone marrow with free of leukemia stem cells that regenerate healthy bone marrow.

Before a bone marrow transplant, you receive very high doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy to destroy their leukemia-the production of the bone marrow. You will then receive an infusion of blood-forming stem cells that help to rebuild the bone marrow.

You can receive stem cells from a donor, or you may be able to use their own stem cells.

Coping and support

A diagnosis of leukemia can be devastating, especially for the family of a newly diagnosed child. With the time you're going to find ways to cope with the distress and uncertainty of cancer. Until then, you can find help for:

  • Learn enough about the leukemia to make decisions about your care.Ask your doctor about your leukemia, including your treatment options and, if you like, your prognosis. As you learn more about leukemia, you can be more confident in making treatment choices. The term "leukemia" can be confusing because it refers to a group of cancers that are not similar, except for the fact that they can affect the bone marrow and the blood. You can waste a lot of time to research the information that does not apply to your type of leukemia. To avoid that, ask your doctor to write down as much information about your specific condition as possible. To restrict your search for information as appropriate.
  • Keep friends and family close. Keep your close relationships strong will help you deal with leukemia. Friends and family can provide the practical support you need, such as help to take care of your house if you're in the hospital. And that you can serve as emotional support when you feel overwhelmed by the cancer.
  • Find someone to talk to.Find a good listener who is willing to listen to you talk about your hopes and fears. This can be a friend or family member. The concern and understanding of a counselor, medical social worker, clergy member or cancer support group may also be useful. Ask your doctor about support groups in your area. Or look in your telephone directory, or the library of a cancer of the organization, such as the National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
  • Take care of yourself. It is easy to get caught up in the tests, treatments, and procedures of the therapy. But it is important to take care of himself, not just the cancer. Try to make time for yoga, cooking, or other favorite diversions.

Learn enough about the leukemia to make decisions about your care. Ask your doctor about your leukemia, including your treatment options and, if you like, your prognosis. As you learn more about leukemia, you can be more confident in making treatment choices.

The term "leukemia" can be confusing because it refers to a group of cancers that are not similar, except for the fact that they can affect the bone marrow and the blood. You can waste a lot of time to research the information that does not apply to your type of leukemia. To avoid that, ask your doctor to write down as much information about your specific condition as possible. To restrict your search for information as appropriate.

Find someone to talk to. Find a good listener who is willing to listen to you talk about your hopes and fears. This can be a friend or family member. The concern and understanding of a counselor, medical social worker, clergy member or cancer support group may also be useful.

Ask your doctor about support groups in your area. Or look in your telephone directory, or the library of a cancer of the organization, such as the National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Preparing for your appointment

Start by seeing your family doctor if you have signs or symptoms that worry you. If your doctor suspects that you have leukemia, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in diseases of the blood and bone marrow (hematologist).

Because appointments can be brief, and because there is often a large amount of information to discuss, it is a good idea to be prepared. Here's some information to help you prepare and know what to expect from your doctor.

What you can do

  • Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there is anything that you need to do in advance, such as restrict your diet.
  • Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
  • Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
  • Make a list of all medications, vitamins or supplements you are taking.
  • Consider the possibility of a family member or friend. Sometimes it can be difficult to remember all the information provided during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
  • Write questions to ask their doctor.

Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of their time together. A list of questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For leukemia, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

  • I have leukemia?
  • What type of leukemia that I have?
  • I need more tests?
  • Does my leukemia needs immediate treatment?
  • What are the treatment options for my leukemia?
  • Can any of the treatments cure my leukemia?
  • What are the possible side effects of each treatment option?
  • There is a treatment that you feel is best for me?
  • How will the treatment affect my daily life? Can I continue working or going to school?
  • I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
  • You should see a specialist? What will that cost, and will my insurance cover it?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What sites do you recommend?

In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, do not hesitate to ask questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor may ask you a series of questions. Be ready to answer them may allow more time later to cover other points you want to address. Your doctor may ask:

  • When did you first begin experiencing symptoms?
  • The symptoms been continuous or occasional?
  • How severe are the symptoms?
  • What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
  • Have you ever had an abnormal blood test results? If so, when?
Symptoms and treatment of Leukemia