Leukemia: Symptoms, Signs, Causes, Types, & Treatment

What is Leukemia?

Leukemia is a cancer that occurs in the bone marrow, where blood cells are produced. Leukemia is caused by an overabundance of white blood cells that occupy space, pushing out the normal blood cells. This interferes with the body’s ability to fight infection, carry oxygen, and regulate bleeding. Leukemia exists in various forms depending on its course and type of white blood cells.

How is Leukemia Diagnosed?

Leukemia can be diagnosed with numerous tests that assist physicians in deciding the nature and extent of the disease. Some of the tests performed are:

• Blood Tests: Complete Blood Count (CBC) may be able to detect abnormal white blood cell, red blood cell, and platelet counts.
• Bone Marrow Biopsy: Bone marrow is removed and examined for leukemia cells.
• Genetic Tests: They identify the exact mutation that happens in leukemia.
• Lumbar Puncture: This is a test to determine whether leukemia has entered the cerebrospinal fluid that protects the brain and spinal cord.
• Imaging Tests: X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs can be done to search for complications and to determine how widespread the leukemia is.

How Does Leukemia Affect the Body?

Leukemia affects the body in many ways

• Compromised Immune System: Leukemia cells build up, pushing out normal white cells and lowering the body’s defense against infection.
• Anemia: A decrease in red blood cells causes fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath.
• Bleeding and Bruising: Low platelet number causes impaired ability to clot blood and leads to easy bruising, slow bleeding, and frequent nosebleeds.
• Organ Enlargement: Leukemia causes splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, or hepatomegaly.
• Neurological Signs: Brain or spinal cord leukemia produces headaches, dizziness, and seizures.

What Are the Early Signs of Leukemia?

Early leukemia signs and symptoms are often slight and resemble ordinary illnesses. They include:

• Chronic weakness and fatigue
• Recurring fevers or infections
• Inexplicable loss of weight
• Unexplained swollen lymph nodes
• Easy bruising and excessive bleeding
• Bone or joint pain
• Shortness of breath
• Night sweats
• Pale color due to anemia

If these persist or increase, medical evaluation is required.

Acute vs Chronic Leukemia

Leukemia is also acute (rapidly growing) and chronic (slow-growing).

• Acute Leukemia: Grows very rapidly and requires immediate treatment. It’s also classified as:
• Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL): Develops in children but can be found in adults too.
• Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML): More prevalent in older adults but can also develop at any age.
• Chronic Leukemia: Grows slowly and may or may not need to be treated when it first develops. It’s classified as:
• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL): Typically strikes older patients and won’t cause symptoms for years.
• Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML): Will lay dormant for years before attacking mercilessly.

Treatment will depend on what type and how much leukemia a patient is diagnosed with.

Treatment of leukemia is all about eliminating cancerous cells and achieving normalization of the production of blood cells. Drug intervention also plays a key role in disease management. The most prevailing treatments for leukemia are:

• Chemotherapy: The process involves treatment with powerful medicines to kill the leukemia cells. It is given in cycles, with time allowed in between to repair the body.
• Targeted Therapy:  Is focused on particular proteins or genes that help leukemia grow. Examples are imatinib (for CML) and rituximab (for CLL).
• Immunotherapy: Is used to train the body’s immune system to fight leukemia cells. Examples are checkpoint inhibitors and CAR T-cell therapy.
• Radiation Therapy: Places high-energy beams to destroy leukemia cells or shrink swollen organs infected with leukemia.
• Bone Marrow Transplant: Also referred to as stem cell transplantation, where the ill bone marrow is replaced by donor cells.

New advances in the management of leukemia continue to improve survival and quality of life for patients. Proper professional guidance for the choice of appropriate individualized treatment is needed.

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Conclusion

Leukemia is a disease that kills, but it is curable if treated on time. Information regarding the symptoms, stages, and medication of leukemia compels individuals towards timely treatment at health centers. Singhla Medicos offers complete medication and care to leukemia patients to rescue them soon from the disease. If you and your family members experience recurring diseases, meet a medical expert with immediate effect so that you can be diagnosed accordingly and treated with success.