Leukemia is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. Leukemia is divided into four different types: acute or chronic myeloid leukemia, and acute or chronic lymphocytic leukemia. These types are categorized according to type of white blood cell that is affected--either the myeloid or lymphoid white blood cells.
Causes
Leukemia is caused by abnormal cell change that multiplies rapidly. These leukemia cells start to outnumber healthy white blood cells, leading to the body's inability to fight infections.
Acute Leukemia Symptoms
In the disease's early stages, symptoms may be mild or not present at all. As the disease progresses, symptoms will become more noticeable. Symptoms of acute leukemia include pale skin, fatigue, mild fever, night sweats, loss of weight or appetite, shortness of breath, and bleeding or bruising easily.
Chronic Leukemia Symptoms
Chronic leukemia tends to develop slower than acute leukemia. Tiredness and fatigue may occur while doing everyday tasks. The spleen may be enlarged and the sufferer may have symptoms of fever, weight loss, frequent infections, joint or bone pain, and swollen lymph nodes.
Diagnosis
Your doctor will perform a physical exam checking for swelling in the lymph nodes and spleen. A blood test will be taken to measure white blood cell levels. A bone marrow biopsy will be administered to confirm a diagnosis of leukemia. This test should also identify the type of leukemia cells present.
Treatment
Treatment will depend on the type of leukemia you have and your age and general health. Chemotherapy is typically the most common form of treatment to kill leukemia cells. Biological therapy uses substances to enhance your immune system by killing leukemia cells. A treatment called Gleevec blocks a certain cancer gene and keeps early stage chronic leukemia under control. Radiation therapy may be used where a large number of leukemia cells are located. In some cases, radiation may be directed over the entire body. In a bone marrow transplant, you receive high doses of chemotherapy and radiation in order to kill leukemia cells in your bone marrow, and that bone marrow is then replaced by healthy bone marrow from a matching donor. Stem cell transplant involves collecting cells from stem cells in the bloodstream. These cells may be your own healthy cells or cells taken from a matching donor. The procedure is similar to a bone marrow transplants, but recovery time is shorter and the risk of infection is lower.
Tags: bone marrow, leukemia cells, white blood, Leukemia Symptoms, acute chronic