leukemia

Leukemia:

Leukemia is a type of cancer. The over one hundred kinds of cancer have two tings in common. A certain type of cell in the body becomes abnormal, and these cells undergo their mitotic phase often. Leukemia is a cancer of the blood.

The blood is made up of plasma and three types of blood cells. Each blood cell has a specific function. White blood cells, also called leukocytes, help the body fight infection and disease. Red blood cells, or erythrocytes, carry oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and organs. The protein hemoglobin gives the cell it's red color. The last cells are platelets, or thrombocytes, which form the blood clots that control and stop bleeding. Blood cells are formed in the soft marrow that is within the bones. The immature cells are called blasts. Some blasts stay in the marrow to mature, while other travel away to finish their growth

When leukemia develops, the mutated cells are the white blood cells, which usually look and act differently than normal leukocytes. There are several types of leukemia, grouped in two ways. One way is by how quickly the disease progresses, the other, what type of blood cell is affected

Leukemia is either acute or chronic. In acute leukemia, the abnormal cells are blasts that remain immature, and are therefor unable to function in their normal fashion. Their numbers increase rapidly, and the disease progresses the same way. In chronic leukemia, the blasts are more developed, and can carry out some of their functions. The blast number increases less quickly than in acute leukemia, as does the disease

Leukemia can arise in either of the two main types of leukocytes: lymphoid cells or myeloid cells. The first is lymphocytic leukemia, the latter is myelogenous leukemia.

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is the most common type in children. The disorder also affects adults, mostly those sixty-five and older

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) occurs in both adults and children, sometimes called acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL)

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) most often occurs in adults over the age of fifty-five. It sometimes afflicts younger adults, but almost never children

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) occurs, for the most part, in adults. A small number of children develop the disease

There are other types of leukemia, such as hairy cell leukemia, wich are very rare

People who suffer from leukemia often have infections and run a high fever, due to the lack of mature leukocytes. Often, the sufferer will also have an insufficient number of healthy erythrocytes (red blood cells) and thrombocytes (platelets). As a direct result, their blood does not carry enough oxygen, a condition known as anemia. They will look pale, and be weak and tire easily. With the lack of platelets, they will bruise and bleed easily

Depending upon the number of cells that are afflicted, the symptoms of leukemia vary. In acute leukemia, the patient usually goes to a doctor because they feel sick, and symptoms appear quickly. In chronic leukemia, the symptoms may now appear for a long time, and generally start out mild, and gradually worsen. The common symptoms of leukemia are as follows: fever, chill, with other flu-like symptoms, weakness, fatigue, frequent infections, loss of appetite, loss of weight, swollen/tender lymph nodes, liver or spleen, easy bleeding or bruising, tiny red spots (petechiae) under the skin, swollen/bleeding gums, sweating (especially at night), bone/joint pain

In acute leukemia, the defective cells may collect in the brain or spinal cord, resulting in headaches, vomiting, confusion, lose of muscle control, and seizures. The cells can also collect in the testicles and cause swelling. Some patients develop sores in the eyes or on the skin. Leukemia can also affect to digestive tract, kidneys, and lungs

In chronic leukemia, the blasts may accumulate gradually in various parts of the body, similar to the acute version of the cancer

To diagnose leukemia, a doctor checks general health, swelling in the liver, spleen, lymph nodes under the arms, in the groin, and the neck. Blood tests are also helpful; the faulted leukocytes can be seen by a microscope, and show what type of leukemia the patient have developed. Further examination is done by a hematologist, oncologist, or pathologist, who examines a sample or bone marrow. The sample is extracted by inserting a long needle into one of the larger bones, such as the hip, and removing a sample of liquid marrow. The process is called bone marrow aspiration (I don't care WHAT it's called- don't get near me with that needle!). A bone marrow biopsy is performed with a larger needle (ow!), which removes a piece of bone and bone marrow. If leukemia cells are found in the marrow, tests are conducted to find out the extent of the disease. A spinal tap (lumbar puncture) checks for blasts in the cerebrospinal fluid. X-rays find signs of the disease in the chest and abdomen

Treatment for leukemia is complex. It varies with each type of the cancer, and with each patient. If possible, acute leukemia should be treated right away. The goal of the treatment is to bring about a remission. Then, when there is no longer any evidence of the disease, more therapy may be given to prevent a relapse. Many patients with acute leukemia can be cured. Chronic leukemia patients may not require immediate care, but should be under constant watch. Chronic leukemia can seldom be cured

Most leukemia is treated by chemotherapy. Some also have radiation therapy, and/or bone marrow transplants. In some cases, the spleen may be removed by an operation known as a spleenectomy. Some anticancer drugs can be taken orally, but move are intravenous through a catheter. The end of a long, flexible tube is placed in the vain to avoid repeat injections. Anticancer drugs by either method enter the bloodstream and affect most of the body, but cannot reach cells across the blood-brain barrier. To do so, the patient receives intrathecal chemotherapy, in which the drugs are injected directly into the cerebrospinal fluid. This type of chemotherapy can be given two ways. Some receive the injection into the lower spine. Others, especially children, receive intrathecal chemotherapy through a special type of catheter called an Ommaya reservoir. This device is places under the scalp, and is more comfortable than the numerous injections.

Radiation therapy is used along with chemotherapy for some kinds of leukemia. Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, uses high-energy rays to damage cancer cells and keep them from growing. This kind of treatment is given in two ways. For some, a specific area of the body is targeted, where there is an accumulation of leukemia cells. Other receive total-body irradiation, usually before a bone marrow transplant

Bone marrow transplants replace the leukemia-producing marrow with healthy marrow, from treated morrow of the patient or from a donor

Biological therapy involves treatment with substances that affect the immune system's response to cancerous cells. Interferon is a biological therapy used against leukemia

Good dental care is important to a leukemia patient. Both leukemia itself and chemotherapy leave the mouth sensitive, prone to infections and bleeding

The side effects of chemotherapy depend mainly upon which kind of drug was used. The therapy generally affects dividing cells. Since cancer cells divide more often, they are mostly affected, but healthy cells also suffer. These cells include blood cells, cells in the hair roots and digestive tract. Some anticancer drugs may affect a patients fertility. Women's menstrual periods may become irregular or even stop. They may also experience symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness. Men stop producing sperm. If treated as a child, some grow up to have normal fertility. However, if a high dosage is used, the child may never be able to have children of their own

Patients undergoing radiation therapy become very tired. The skin of the treated area becomes sensitive, cry, and loses hair. Radiotherapy can also cause nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Most often, the side effects are temporary, and can be treated. However, in very young children, the therapy can result in difficulties with learning and co-ordination, if directed at the brain. Radiotherapy to the testicles results often in both fertility and hormone problems

Bone marrow transplants increases risk of infection and bleeding. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) may occur if the marrow is from a donor. In GVHD, the patient rejects the marrow, most often in the liver, skin, and digestive tract, and may be mild or severe. Drugs may be taken to decease the risk of GVHD

The cause of leukemia is not known. But some risk factors are known. Exposure to large amounts of high-energy radiation, strong electromagnetic fields may increase risk. Certain genetic conditions can up the risk of leukemia, such as Down's syndrome. Exposure to benzene and other chemicals (some used in treatments of other cancer) have been shown to increase the risk of leukemia. A virus has been linked to one form of rare leukemia, but not to the more common forms

[search] [notes] [papers] [articles] [zine] [links] [forum] [chat] [about] [disclaimer] [main]