Leukemia Causes, Treatment and Symptoms

Kimberly Santizo

Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. This disease starts in the bone marrow. The progress of growth of the leukemia cell depends on the type of leukemia. With leukemia the body begins to make abnormal white blood cells that grow faster than normal white blood cells and don't function as well as them either. With leukemia immature blood cell become cancer. These cancerous cell eventually crowed out the good blood cells in the bone marrow. Leukemia is either acute or chronic. It is more likely for men to develop it than women. In children this type of cancer usually happens before the age of ten. Leukemia is no racist, it attacks anyone and any given moment.

The exact cause of leukemia is unknown. It is believed that some reasons are to be exposed to radiation or some chemicals. Most cases of leukemia are not believed to be hereditary, but it is believed certain genetic mutations and conditions can be passed off to offspring that increase the chances of developing leukemia.

This cancerous disease has many symptoms. Although there are many symptoms it can very depending on patient and how advanced. And at the same time patients can show no symptoms at all. Some of the symptoms are Fever, Fatigue, Aching bones or joints, Headaches, Skin rashes, Swollen glands (lymph nodes), Unexplained weight loss, Bleeding or swollen gums, An enlarged spleen or liver, or a feeling of abdominal fullness, and Slow-healing cuts, nosebleeds, or frequent bruises. If leukemia cells have affected the brain, symptoms such as headaches, seizures, confusion, loss of muscle control, and vomiting can occur. The flu or other common medical problems can accompany these symptoms.

If your physician suspects you may have leukemia he may ask about your medical history. Also he may Check for enlarged lymph nodes in your neck, underarm, or groin. Your doctor will also do a complete blood count (CBC) and a blood chemistry. These tests let your doctor look into symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, fever, bruising, or weight loss. A bone marrow aspiration and biopsy is good to get done. This is the key to diagnosing most leukemia and helps determine the type.

Complications are many. Weight loss and anemia are further complications of leukemia and its treatment. Complications of any leukemia also include a relapse or progress of the disease after a remission has been achieved with treatment. Tumor lysis syndrome is a condition caused by the death of cancer cells when treated. It'll happen in almost any type of cancer, and it is seen with some cases of leukemia.

Treatment for leukemia include advance radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy. Combinations of these treatments may be used. Chronic leukemia is unlikely to be cured with treatment, but treatments are often able to control the cancer and manage symptoms. Some people with chronic leukemia may be candidates for stem cell transplantation. Chemotherapy is the administration of drugs that kill rapidly dividing cells such as leukemia or other cancer cells. Biological therapy is any treatment that uses living organisms, substances that come from living organisms, or synthetic versions of these substances to treat cancer. Radiation therapy uses high energy radiation to target cancer cells. Radiation therapy may be used in the treatment of leukemia that has spread to the brain. Leukemia is a horrible disease. It does have many treatments available and cancer patients can live many more comfortable years of life.

References

leukemia. (2016). In P. Lagasse, & Columbia University, The Columbia encyclopedia. New York, NY: Columbia University Press. Retrieved from https://prx-sbbcollege.lirn.net/login?url=http://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/columency/leukemia/0

Lewine. (2013). Leukemia (overview). In Harvard Medical School (Ed.), Harvard Medical School health topics A-Z. Boston, MA: Harvard Health Publications. Retrieved from https://prx-sbbcollege.lirn.net/login?url=http://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/hhphealth/leukemia_overview/0

Mayo cliic staff (January 28, 2016) http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/leukemia/basics/causes/con-20024914

https://www.cancer.gov/types/leukemia

Medically Reviewed by a Doctor (febuary 3, 2016) http://www.medicinenet.com/leukemia/page5.htm#what_is_the_treatment

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http://www.cancercenter.com/leukemia/