Leukemia
You may be surprised to find that leukemia isnt just one type of cancer but actually a category of multiple cancers that affect our blood cells. Both children and adults can be diagnosed with these cancers, which cause our bone marrow to produce abnormal white blood cells.
These abnormal cells, called leukemic cells, can accumulate in the bone marrow and blood, crowding out any healthy white blood cells. The white blood cells exist to fight infection and disease. The leukemic cells also harm our platelets, which protects us from bleeding out, and the red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout our bodies.
Leukemia can progress either rapidly (acutely) or slowly (chronically). Depending on its progression and the type of cell it affects, a leukemia diagnosis can fall into four broad categories. Regardless of the type, infection, anemia and bleeding are common effects of this cancer.
Recently Answered
- Q What are my chances of surviving chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)?
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Dr. Patrick Maguire, OncologyAccording to the National Cancer Institute's (NCI's) Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Cancer Statistics Review, the five-year survival rate following a diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is 78%, the highest of the... Full Answer
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- Q Are there alternative treatments for chronic lymphocytic leukemia?
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Although no substitute for medical treatment, certain alternative therapies can provide comfort and stress relief. Some therapies, such as acupuncture, can help reduce pain symptoms. Others, such as massage, meditation, or aromatherapy, simply promote... Full Answer
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- Q What is the difference between B- and T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia?
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Chronic lymphocytic leukemia can affect one of two different types of white blood cell, called B-cells and T-cells, differently. B-cell CLL is far and away the most common form of the disease, and most statistics relating to incidence and treatment... Full Answer
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- Q Can chronic lymphocytic leukemia be prevented?
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Apart from being aware of certain risk factors, it is impossible to say exactly how to prevent chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Even in the case of risk factors, most are beyond individual control. For example, having a brother or sister with the disease... Full Answer
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- Q What is leukemia?
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Leukemia is a cancer that mostly affects the blood and bone marrow, the tissue that makes blood cells. There are several different types of leukemia, some more rare than others, some which affect children more than adults and vice versa, but all share... Full Answer
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- Q How do other illnesses affect chronic lymphocytic leukemia?
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Because the disease affects white blood cells, chronic lymphocytic leukemia opens the body up to a variety of other infections. This is because white blood cells are the front-line soldiers in the body's fight against bacterial infection. In fact,... Full Answer
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- Q How is chronic lymphocytic leukemia diagnosed?
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Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is most often diagnosed by accident during a routine blood test. This is because the disease rarely shows any symptoms in its early stages. Blood tests reveal abnormal numbers of white blood cells. A test called bone marrow... Full Answer
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- Q Is chronic lymphocytic leukemia serious?
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Although people with CLL can go for years without treatment, it is a serious and potentially fatal disease. This is why doctors will want to closely monitor the progress of the disease, even if you have not started to show symptoms. Death from the... Full Answer
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- Q How is a relapse of adult acute myeloid leukemia treated?
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The return, or relapse, of acute myeloid leukemia is serious, and requires a whole new round of treatment. Chemotherapy is used to treat relapses, along with transplants of bone marrow stem cells. The stem cell transplants are necessary because the... Full Answer
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- Q What are the phases of chronic myelogenous leukemia?
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After a diagnosis of CML-doctors assign a phase that indicates how far the disease has progressed and what treatment options are available. The phases are descriptive and divided up into three categories based on the percentage of the blood containing... Full Answer
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