The basics of leukemia
Cancer can affect just about every part of the body. Leukemia is the name given to cancers that affect the blood and blood-forming tissues of the body. The word comes from the Greek words for "white" (leukos) and "blood" (haima).
The Cleveland Clinic says leukemia develops when the DNA of a single cell in the bone marrow mutates and cannot develop and function properly. In a healthy person, bone marrow, which is the spongy interior of the bones, produces millions of blood cells. Many develop into white blood cells that are necessary for immune system functions. However, The MD Anderson Cancer Institute says leukemia occurs when the DNA of a bone marrow cell changes at some point in development and thus becomes cancerous and multiplies rapidly. Eventually these cancerous cells crowd out healthy cells in the blood and bone marrow.
Leukemia is the tenth most common cancer in the United States and it most affects while males between the ages of 65 and 74. Although leukemia is generally rare in children, it is the most common cancer that affects children and teens.
There are many different types of leukemia. Most are classified as either chronic or acute, and by the type of stem cell that has turned cancerous, which could be either lymphoid or myeloid stem cells. Some forms of leukemia include acute lymphocytic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, B-cell prolyphocytic leukemia, hairy cell leukemia, and juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia.
Symptoms of leukemia vary and can be indicative of the type of leukemia present. However, the Mayo Clinic says these are some of the signs and symptoms leukemias can produce:
· Fever or chills
· Persistent fatigue and weakenss
· Severe or frequent infections
· Losing weight without trying
· Swollen lymph nodes, and enlarged liver or spleen
· Easy bleeding or bruising
· Tiny red spots in the skin
· Frequent nosebleeds
· Bone tenderness or pain
· Excessive sweating, particularly at night
It is important to make an appointment with a doctor if a person experiences any of these symptoms or if other unexplained conditions persist. Leukemia may be detected through a physical exam, blood tests or a bone marrow test. Common treatments for leukemia include chemotherapy, radiation therapy stem cell transplantation, CAR T cell therapy and targeted therapy.