INFORMATION ON LEUKEMIA / BLOOD CANCER

Our body is made up of many different types of cells, such as skin, nerve, muscle and blood cells. Cancer which affects the blood cells or many white cells found in the blood is termed as Leukemia in other words group of blood diseases characterized by malignancies of the blood-forming tissues is Leukemia. In Blood cancer white blood cells are affected the most.

Leukemia is the most common childhood cancer on an average one in two thousand children are affected annually. Body's blood-making system, including the lymphatic system and bone marrow are affected mostly by Leukemia. Leukemia can be either Acute Leukemia or Chronic Leukemia. Children are rarely affected by chronic leukemia whereas acute leukemia can affects both adults and children. Leukemia occurs most often in the elderly. When leukemia occurs in children, it happens most often before age 4.

TYPES OF BLOOD CANCER

Chronic Leukemia Cancer that starts in blood-forming cells of the bone marrow, and then spread to other parts of the body including the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, skin, and brain is termed as Chronic leukemia whereas other types of cancer can start in organs such as the lungs, colon, or breast, and then spread to the bone marrow. Patient with chronic leukemia may live for many years. Chronic leukemia usually develops slowly and is a less dangerous than acute leukemia.

Acute leukemia starts from white blood cells in the bone marrow called lymphocytes. In acute leukemia, immature blood cells multiply quickly in the bone marrow, and in due course overpower the healthy cells. As these immature abnormal cells grow immensely they even sometimes spread to other organs in the body including the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, central nervous system and testes and cause harm, especially in acute myeloid leukemia.

SYMPTOMS OF LEUKEMIA / BLOOD CANCER:-

Symptoms of leukemia are like symptoms of the flu or other common diseases these symptoms mainly depends on the amount of abnormal cells present.
1. Fever , Fatigue and sweating during nights.
2. bones, joints or head aches
3. rashes in the skin
4. Swollen glands (lymph nodes)
5. becomes Prone to infections frequently
6. Bleeding or swelling of gums or rectum
7. An enlarged spleen or liver, or a feeling of abdominal fullness
8. Slow-healing cuts, nosebleeds or frequent bruises.
9. Swelling in the abdomen from an enlarged spleen.
10. Swollen lymph nodes in the armpit, neck, or groin.
11. Desire for food decreases and you start loosing weight.
12. Pain in the Joints

DIAGNOSIS OF LEUKEMIA / BLOOD CANCER

Even if your doctor discovers swollen lymph nodes or an enlarged liver or spleen during physical examination he won't conclude that you have leukemia until and unless your blood tests especially blood cell counts shows abnormal results. Bone marrow biopsy and additional blood tests are few other tests that would be done to detect the presence of abnormal cells and, sometimes, tests for genetic abnormalities, such as the Philadelphia chromosome.

TREATMENT OF LEUKEMIA / BLOOD CANCER

Treatment for leukemia mainly depends upon the severity of the disease and the exact type of leukemia present. The majority of lymphomas, leukemia's and multiple myeloma are treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Bone marrow transplant or Stem cell transplants are also being done with greater frequency. Newer treatments, such as biological therapies, are being tested regularly .

Prevention: There is no prevention for leukemia as such. Close relatives of people with leukemia should undertake routine physical checkups, unless suspicious symptoms develop. Genetic testing also plays a vital role in identifying people who can be more prone to develop the illness.

Side Affects of treatments:
1. Though Chemotherapy and radiation treatment can cure tumors they are inaccurate and may damage healthy and malignant tissue alike, which results in unpleasant and painful side effects.
2. Beam radiation treatment can harm surrounding tissues in spite of a physician's best attempts to focus the beam.