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What is leukemia disease?

What is leukemia disease?

Introduction

Cancerous conditions are of many categories. No two conditions are similar though; each is distinct in its own way – based on its stage, site of occurrence, ability to spread to other organs, etc. These are basically autoimmune problems. If left unchecked, tumors multiply at a safter rate, and can spread to nearby tissues. Anybody can get cancers, and at any age. The risks are quite common among both sexes. Oncology is the domain which cares for tumors. Radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgical oncology are some of the leading sub-domains under oncology.

Leukemia

Leukemia is a type of cancer that occurs in your blood cells. The starting point of such cancers is the marrow; this is where cells of your blood are made. Bone marrow is the origination point for the birth of blood cells. These immature cells then turn into red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets as they mature.

These blood cells are earmarked to perform a few functions. Red blood cells ensure oxygen is supplied to all your tissues as well as organs. On the other hand, it is your white cells which safeguard your system against threats such as infections. Lastly, platelets work to make your blood to clot; this helps in arresting loss of blood from cuts or injuries

Leukemia definition

Onset of leukemia causes your system to produce an enormous volume of blood-cells. This is considered as an anomalous situation. As you know, there are three (3) distinctive types of cells in your blood; out of these cells, it is your white-cells that are more likely to multiply at a faster rate. When this condition remains untreated, these abnormal cells may out-number normal white in your blood.

Leukemia types

Leukemia cells can be of various kinds. Depending on cells in your blood which stand afflicted, leukemia is either centered on lymphocytes and myeloid cells. In these two sub-divisions, lymphocytes are quite similar to white blood cells. Myeloid cells are relatively immature cells; upon development, they can turn into red blood cells, white blood cells or as platelets.

Based on the way leukemia spreads as well as multiples, cancers are labelled as chronic or as acute conditions. Among the two distinctive types – the chronic version of leukemia is very gradual in its growth. This may become an untreatable disease if you do not take timely treatments. But the acute version of leukemia can multiply at an accelerated pace. This can be very difficult to treat if timely diagnosis and treatment are not offered.

There are further classifications of leukemia; these are acute lymphocytic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and chronic myeloid leukemia.

Acute myeloid leukemia is one of the most common diseases in older people. There are also instances wherein this disease has been detected among children and younger adults. On the other hand, acute lymphocytic leukemia is one of the cancerous conditions which afflict children as well as teens. However, a few adults are also likely to have it. Conditions like chronic lymphocytic leukemia is common in adults – of both sexes. More specifically, adults aged between 29 to 45 years are vulnerable.

Leukemia treatments

Leukemia can be treated through multiple approaches. Widely used measures are radiation treatment, chemotherapy, targeted therapies as well as transplantation of stem cells.

Of these different approaches, chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to treat cancers like leukemia. It is referred as one of the systemic approaches available to treat leukemia; chiefly due to the ability of drugs into get to remotest corners of your body.

Medications of multiple genres are administered as part of treatment. Medications aim at either prolonging the number of life years or they aim at treating the cancerous condition. All meds used under chemotherapy have the clearance of US-based drug authorizing authority – FDA. This clearance is a basic prerequisite for drugs to turn eligible for cancer treatment.

Mediations used under chemotherapy for leukemia have a common property of getting absorbed with relative ease. This property lends these meds easy access to most parts of your body. Chemotherapy differs immensely from other forms of treatment modalities; others are mostly localised therapies. Here, the focus is on a specific organ or tissue that has turned cancerous.

Meds used under chemo-treatment are capable of working in stages. Efficacy of each drug varies from one stage to another. Hence, the same drug may not perform in a similar manner to two individuals. Which medication works well for you is a decision taken by your caregiver i.e., medical oncologist.

Your healthy cells may get damaged when you use chemo drugs. So, the key aspect is what is the best possible way to reduce damages of healthier cells; on the other hand, how to enhance the damage done to cancerous cells. This has a direct bearing on the cost of each sitting of chemotherapy.

Often times, treatments may involve multiple approaches – i.e., more than two modalities for treating leukemia. For example, there are instances wherein treatment plans of leukemia are commenced with sittings of chemotherapy, and then involves radiation therapy. There could be instances where chemo sittings are followed by surgical interventions. As a next step, treatment may lead to radiation treatment – where beams of high-energy rays are channeled to the affected site / organ.

In general, the next activities – i.e., post sittings of chemotherapy – are direct outcomes of severity of the cancerous condition and the stage it is in.

You must also stay aware of likely undesired side effects of using chemotherapy for treating conditions like leukemia. The most common side effects are a marked decrease in immunity system, added risks of internal bleeding as well as development of bruises, painful nerves or muscles (also known as fibromyalgia), etc. Patients of leukemia may also witness loss of scalp hair and from other parts of their body.

Another persistent problem is the odds of infections tend to rise. You may easily get infectious conditions like flu or common cold. So, if you experience a runny nose, increase in body temperature or soreness of throat, tell the treating doctor of all such conditions.

Also, if one or more of these side effects are staying on for a longer span of time, you are advised to seek clinical support as soon as you possible can. The caregiving team which is treating leukemia is likely to provide a few alternatives or safer substitutes; in some cases, strength of doses is lowered to reduce the severity of adverse side effects.

When you are taking chemo drugs for treating leukemia, it is a safe practice to stay away from some food items. People living with leukemia need to talk to a certified dietitian to know what foods go well with your clinical condition – especially while you are undergoing chemo treatment for leukemia. For example: intake of alcohol is a no-go while using chemo meds. Those who have drinking habits must tell their doctor about such lifestyle practices. You are advised to either completely avoid taking alcohol or reduce the daily intake of such drinks.

On a related note, it is not helpful to eat foods that are rich in oils as well as greasy food items. Some chemo drugs – used for treating leukemia – can cause episodes of headaches. These can show up as sharp pains on your temples. If such spells occur very frequently, talk to your caregiver and find needful remedies for the same.

When cancerous cells causing leukemia are growing very fast, pains are a common outcome. It is highly recommended not to ignore such pains – at whichever site they occur. Not treating these pains can only aggravate them for the worse. Also, it can be harmful to stop using chemo drugs due to the onset of pains.

It is highly recommended to consult with your treating oncologist, and also – do not discontinue the use of chemo drugs without the consent of your caregiving team. It is equally essential to speak with your doctor about the next treatment methodology – i.e., post chemotherapy – for treating leukemia or other forms of blood cancers.

In sum, there are several investigative procedures through which leukemia can be diagnosed. Tests done for diagnosis include complete blood count; investigations conducted on bone marrow samples and genetic tests to identify possible mutations in genes.

Conditions like leukemia are best treated after fully knowing their type, the stage of disease, its severity, your age and presence of ailments – i.e., apart from cancer. Treatments done for leukemia include chemotherapy, radiation treatment, transplantation of stem cells and targeted therapies – to name a few. In order to know more about leukemia, talk to a qualified oncologist.

October 21, 2024 Cancer , , , , , ,