Leukaemia

Leukemia Causes Symptoms Information With Treatment

January 19th, 2010
Leukemia is a bone marrow disorder that arises when one abnormal white blood cell begins to continuously replicate itself. Leukemia, which literally means “white blood” in Greek, occurs when there is an excess of abnormal white blood cells in the blood. The disease usually starts in the white blood cells. The blood-forming (hematopoietic) cells of the bone marrow make leukocytes to defend the body against infectious organisms, such as viruses and bacteria. If the cells reach the central nervous system and build up in the cerebrospinal fluid that support s the brain and spinal column, they can cause headaches and seizures. Lymphocytes, which are found in both the blood stream and the lymphatic system, coordinate the immune response and produce antibodies. If untreated, the surplus leukemic cells overwhelm the bone marrow, enter the bloodstream, and eventually invade other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, spleen, liver, and central nervous system (brain, spinal cord). In this way, the behavior of leukemia is different than that of other cancers, which usually begin in major organs and ultimately spread to the bone marrow.
Causes of Leukaemia
The common Causes of Leukaemia :
We do not know what causes leukemia.
Very high levels of radiation
If you think your child is at risk for leukemia, talk with your doctor.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy
These are only risk factors. Most people who have one of the risk factors do not get leukemia.
moking
Some viruses like Human T-cell leukemia virus
Working with chemicals like benzene or formaldehyde
Symptoms of Leukaemia
Some Symptoms of Leukaemia :
Fever , chills, and other flu-like symptoms.
Neurological symptoms ( headache ).
Night sweats
Swollen or bleeding gums.
Loss of appetite and/or weight.
Enlarged liver and spleen.
Weakness and fatigue.
Frequent infections.
Bone pain or tenderness.
Shortness of breath when you’re physically active, as while climbing steps.
Problems breathing
Treatment of Leukaemia
The abnormal cells are killed by medicines. Chemotherapy can be taken by mouth, by shots, or given into a vein (intravenously).
Surgery to remove an enlarged spleen or to install a venous access device (large plastic tube) to give medications and withdraw blood samples.
Radiation therapy to kill cancer cells by exposure to high-energy radiation.
High-energy x-rays are used to kill abnormal cells.
After radiation and chemotherapy kills the abnormal bone marrow, healthy bone marrow from a healthy donor is given to a patient through a vein. The healthy bone marrow goes to the patient’s bones and makes healthy blood cells. Most children with leukemia will not need a bone marrow transplant.
Some people with leukemia choose to enroll in clinical trials to try out experimental treatments or new combinations of known therapies.
Most Effective Treatments Applied to Help With Acute Leukemia
January 19th, 2010
There are several common treatments for leukemia patients. The information that follows is not intended as comprehensive, but rather provides a broad overview of options available to the medical community.
Leukemia is a type of cancer that begins in the blood-forming cells of the bone marrow. From there, the disease quickly moves into the blood where it can spread to other parts of the body. It typically chooses the liver, lymph nodes, spleen, spinal cord, brain and even the skin. Acute leukemia means the disease develops quickly and can be fatal within a few months.
To learn more about the different types of treatments used to treat acute leukemia, read on.
Radiation
Radiation therapy is used for two purposes. The first is to actively treat and kill leukemia cancer cells in the spinal fluid and the brain. The second way in which radiation therapy is used is as a prevention method – essentially to prevent the cancer from returning to different parts of the body after chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy Courses
Chemotherapy is the primary treatment used to address leukemia. There are three major stages of chemotherapy for leukemia patients and these are induction, consolidation and maintenance. Essentially, induction is the phase intended to kill the majority of cancer cells. Consolidation is designed to kill any remaining cells, and maintenance is a low dose phase designed to prevent recurrence of the leukemia.
Remission Induction Therapy
Patients who are diagnosed with AML (acute myelogenous leukemia) will typically undergo remission induction treatments which involve cytrabine and an anthracycline. Because remission induction is so intensive, it’s often undergone on an in-patient basis.
Typically, a course of remission induction will only last between 5 and 7 days. However, because most of the body’s healthy bone marrow cells have been destroyed over the course of the treatment, the patient must endure a lengthy hospital stay following treatment.
Patients diagnosed with ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia) will typically undergo remission induction treatments which involve anthracycline, prednisone and vincristine. Generally, bone marrow damage is less significant, and ALL patients can expect shorter hospital stays.
Consolidation Chemotherapy
After the initial remission induction, the patient will undergo what is called consolidation therapy. This is designed to destroy any remaining cancer cells and therefore prevent a recurrence.
Maintenance Therapy
Patients with ALL might have to undergo ongoing maintenance therapy. Essentially, it is a course of oral medications that can typically be done on an out-patient basis.
Central Nervous System Prophylaxis
Some ALL patients may receive methotrexate, a drug used to treat leukemia, through a spinal tap. This is done to prevent ALL from recurring in either the spinal fluid or the brain.
Transplantation of Stem Cells
Stem cell transplantation is sometimes used in younger patients after remission induction, particularly if they have a poor prognosis. It’s also part of standard treatments for leukemia patients under 50 who have seen their leukemia relapse.
Leukemia is a deadly disease requiring both aggressive and persistent treatment. Fortunately there are several options from which the medical profession attempt to counter it.
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