Leukemia - Cancer of The Blood Cells

Leukemia is a cancer of the blood cells. In leukemia, bone marrow began to make many abnormal white blood cells (leukemia cells). These cells are not normal numbers of healthy cells gradually cause anemia, bleeding and infection. The exact cause of leukemia is not known but risk factors have been identified. leukemia are grouped into how quickly spread disease (acute or chronic) and where blood cells are affected ((lymphocytes or myelocytes).

TYPES of leukemia

• Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).

It mainly affects adults. It affects cells myleoid and usually grow slowly at first. Have little or no symptoms in the early stages. It is usually diagnosed in the chronic stage when treatment is very effective for most people.

• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)

This kind almost never affects children. It is found in people over 55 years. It affects lymphoid cells and grow slowly. It is the adult form of the most common chronic leukemia. You may feel good for years and do not require any treatment.

• Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)

Most common type of leukemia in children although adults may get it. It affects lymphoid cells and grows very fast

• Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)

It is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults. It affects children as well. Grow rapidly and affect cells myleoid.

*There is also a rare type of leukemia such as hairy cell leukemia

RISK FACTORS

• Smoke
• This increases the risk of AML.
• Last chemotherapy or radiation for another cancer makes you a high risk candidate for this cancer.
• Exposure to high levels of radiation.

These high levels of radiation exposure greatly increases your chances of getting this disease. for example a nuclear bomb accidents increase this high level of radiation.

• Family history.

If your family member has been diagnosed with leukemia, you have a high risk of getting it too.

• Exposure to chemicals

Exposure to chemicals such as benzene can cause AML. Benzene is used widely in the chemical industry and is found in gasoline and cigarette smoke.

• Genetic disorders.

Genetic or inherited disorders such as Down syndrome increases your risk.

• Blood disorder myelodysplastic syndrome and certain other blood disorders increase the risk of AML.
• Human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I): increase the risk of a rare type of leukemia T-cell leukemia-called adults.

TREATMENT

Treatment is based on many factors such as the type of leukemia, the overall health and age.

• Chemotherapy

This is the main form of treatment for leukemia. Drugs that are used to kill cancer cells. You may have a pill or an injection into your vein depends on the type of leukemia you have.

• Radiation Therapy

X-rays or other high-energy rays are used to destroy leukemia cells and stop their growth.

• Stem cell transplantation

The purpose of this type of procedure is to destroy the cells in your bone marrow, including the leukemia cells and replace it with a normal healthy cells. .

Diagnose Leukemia

There are various tests that can be done to help diagnose leukemia. The following three methods are the most common:

1. Physical examination - Often used to check for lumps, disorders, or certain symptoms of leukemia that may be present in patients. This examination usually includes a thorough revision of the patient's medical history, family history, and risk factors that may exist specifically for the patient. Once the inspection has been completed, usually for a blood test to follow.

2. Blood Test - As a CBC (complete blood count) test can detect leukemia by determining the number of red blood cells and white, along with platelets (small, round, thin the blood cells that help the blood to stop flowing from the cut to become thick and sticky), the number of red blood cells which make-up blood samples, and the amount of hemoglobin in the blood that is composed.

- Peripherial blood smear (a thin layer of blood [stained] smeared on a microscope slide that allows for the cells to be examined microscopically) to determine the presence of "blast cells," which will reveal the type and number of white blood cells that exist, can also be used.
- A blood cytogenetic analysis can be used to check for any changes in the chromosomes of lymphocytes, together with other blood tests to see how well organs are functioning.

3. Biopsy - A fine needle is usually inserted into the hip or breast bone to remove both bone samples, or bone marrow in the laboratory for microscopic examination (bone marrow aspiration [most common]). Samples are usually examined by a pathologist for any signs of cancer cells.
Another form of biopsy may include:

(a) Lymph node biopsy - depending on the type of leukemia that is suspected (lymph nodes removed for examination by a pathologist).
(b) Lumbar puncture / Spinal Tap - is where the spinal fluid is removed from between the vertebrae in the spine, for examination by a pathologist.

Another during the biopsy procedure may include:
CT scans, X-rays, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), and Ultra Sound Scan.