Early signs of leukemia in blood work
Early signs of leukemia in blood work
Introduction
Leukemia is a cancerous condition that affects blood cells. More specifically, leukemia affects white cells of your blood; however, there are a few types that can affect other types of blood cells as well. Leukemia can be either slow growing (chronic) or fast-growing (acute). This blood condition can start in your lymphoid or myeloid cell. Depending on the type of leukemia, treatment options are offered.
Typically, leukemia involves an unprecedented increase in white cells. An increased count of such cells elbow-out platelets and red cells. These white cells are unable to perform their duties well. Like leukemia, lymphoma is yet another cancerous condition affecting your white cells. As these conditions are quite similar, medical science treats them as ‘first cousins. In both these blood conditions, blood cells develop in an abnormal manner.
In case of lymphoma, abnormally functioning cells stick to each other, and trigger cancers in your lymphatic network. This network contains lymph-nodes and lymph-vessels, spleen and tonsils. This network aids in flushing out infections from your system.
In case of leukemia, abnormally functioning cells remain in your bloodstream itself. Both lymphoma and leukemia are known to bring-down your body’s ability to ward off infections.
Daily, your marrow produces billions of blood cell; a majority of these are red blood cells. Onset of leukemia triggers a condition where in your marrow produces a larger count of white cells that what is needed. This extra count of white cells is not endowed with properties to keep infections at bay.
Moreover, as there is an abundant number of such cells, they interfere with the way your body normally works. If left untreated, your body may soon have inadequate number of platelets as well as red cells. Insufficient number of platelets means you may have problems in making your blood to clot. Inadequate red cells mean your body is bereft of needful oxygen supply. Your system is soon deprived of healthy white cells, essential to fight external risks like infections and allergies.
What is the first sign of leukemia
First sign(s) of leukemia resemble a lot with many other common ailments. Hence, it often takes an experienced practitioner to see these first signs in the right light. Among the few first signs of leukemia , fatigue scores as one of the foremost symptoms. There are instances wherein people have reported sleeping for more than 14 hours. There are also instances wherein people may find it hard to move out of their beds.
Weakness along with fatigue remains the first symptom of leukemia in many. Studies done on weakness and fatigue link them to an onset of anemia. Once your body is bereft of needful red cells, it gets lesser amount of oxygen for bodily functions. This exhausts you soon mentally and physically.
Another early sign of leukemia is the presence of pain. Pains are felt at feet and hips. It is also likely painful muscles may show-up during night-times than during the day. In general, more than 2 in 8 individuals living with leukemia witness painful bones as a distinctive symptom.
Soreness of glands is another early-stage sign of leukemia. Glands adjoining the throat – once swollen – may make it difficult to sleep peacefully. Swelling of lymph-nodes is an indication of immunity cells toiling too hard. There are cases where glands witness inflammation for more than 12 days, and keep growing with the passage of time.
Other early-stage signs of leukemia include dizziness, impairment of eyesight and other vision-related problems. These problems occur when white cells grow at a faster rate, disturbing the easy flow of blood through arteries in your cerebral system. Slower movement of blood can also cause a few other symptoms like vertigo, migraines, nausea as well as convulsions / seizures.
Early symptoms of blood cancer
Early signs of blood cancers depend on the type of cancerous condition i.e., if it is leukemia, myeloma, lymphoma or other such blood conditions. More commonly observed early-stage signs include swelling at various nodes of your body – especially near your glands, onset of infections that recur as well as persist for long, an inexplicable increase in body temperature, pain in the upper part of your abdomen, paleness of skin, significant loss of body weight and excessive sweats during night hours.
On your skin, blood cancers cause a few changes: these include rashes, bruising and paling. Of these, rashes can occur either as large-sized spots or tiny blotches. Blotches are also called purpura. On fair-skinned people, such blotches may appear purplish or reddish. On brown-skinned or dark-skinned individuals, these blotches may appear in a darker tone than skin surrounding them.
Bruises – another early sign of blood cancer – often show-up as discolored patches. Such patches are likely to alter their colors over time, can become darker and also tender as well. On dark-skinned individuals, bruises are difficult to locate; but over time, they turn more discolored than other parts of your skin.
Paleness means your skin may look blighted. This is chiefly due to a lesser number of cells in your blood. Among light-skinned individuals, paleness is easily noticed. In case of dark-skinned people, your palms may turn lighter than normal, and your body may sport a grayish tone. Over time, paleness spreads to your nail beds, gums, lips and tongue. Regardless of your skin tone, your lower eyelid -when pulled down – may appear pale and blighted.
Early stage leukemia symptoms
Early-stage symptoms of leukemia depend on the type of condition. For example, chronic versions of leukemia are discovered ahead of their exhibiting the first signs. But, the acute form of leukemia may take a longer time to display its early-stage symptoms. Be it a chronic or acute conditions, watch-out for a few unmistakable early-stage signs like painful longer bones – like your thigh bone or bones in your hand, recurrent episodes of infections, respiratory problems, absence of hunger, severe levels of tiredness, tingling of feet and numbness of hands.
These early-stage symptoms tend to get worser as leukemia progresses. At an advanced stage, the signs include severe spells of internal bleeding, swelling of abdomen, acute respiratory problems, infections in your gastric tract, and other skin-based infectious conditions. At very advanced stages, leukemia causes sleepiness – almost all through the day, severe loss of body weight, altered sense of taste, frequent nightmares, loss of bladder-control and unconsciousness.
In order to manage early symptoms of leukemia, your doctor may advise a few approaches. To manage anaemia-linked symptoms, you are advised to eat a lot of iron-rich foods. Such foods are spinach, pumpkin seeds, soybeans, clams and oysters. Your caregiver may also tell you to take iron-fortified foods like cereals. It is a safe thing to stay away from alcoholic drinks. Take special care to cut-down on foods having vitamin K; this helps decrease risks of internal bleeding. It is helpful to schedule frequent naps to recharge your system.
A drop in white cells can be managed by washing hands frequently, staying away from people who are infected, taking shots of vaccines – as prescribed by your caregiver, and by never sharing your household utensils. All these practices can help avoid infections as well as allergies.
Drop in platelet levels can be countered by avoiding risky activities and sporting actions prone to cause injuries, brushing your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush, avoiding the use of sharper instruments, wearing slippers / shoes to prevent cuts, etc. As an added precaution, delay dental procedures and stay away from using painkilling drugs like non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as naproxen or ibuprofen. If your gums are bleeding, use cold water to rinse your oral parts.
You can also manage early symptoms of leukemia by taking support from a therapist to streamline your everyday activities, eat small-sized meals on a regular basis, consume blander food items – for example, crackers – to decrease spells of nausea and vomiting, try sitting erect after a meal – such postures help digest foods you eat, seek help to do mundane activities like preparing meals, shopping, etc.
In sum, early-stage symptoms of leukemia show-up when cancerous cells elbow-out healthy red cells, white cells and platelets. As a result, you get tired, easily infected and may bleed often. All these signs do not necessarily indicate onset of blood cancers. There are other relatively harmless conditions that can also cause these symptoms. Hence, it is highly recommended to seek guidance from a qualified physician who can rule out leukemia / blood cancers.
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Education: Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai Experience: Agarwal is a seasoned pharmacist with over 7 years of experience in the pharmaceutical field. She has worked in various settings, including hospital pharmacies and community clinics, where she has excelled in medication management, patient counseling, and clinical support. Agarwal is known for her expertise in drug therapy optimization and patient safety. In addition to her practical experience, she contributes to health journalism, focusing on pharmaceutical advancements and health policy, and is involved in research projects aimed at improving medication practices and health outcomes. is known for her expertise in drug therapy optimization and patient safety. In addition to her practical experience, she contributes to health journalism, focusing on pharmaceutical advancements and health policy, and is involved in research projects aimed at improving medication practices and health outcomes.