An Overview of Leukemia - Blood Cancer

Our bodies are made up of trillions of tiny little things called cells. Each cell has a different job to do. Red blood cells give energy to our body, white blood cells fight off disease, and platelets help the body stop bleeding after getting a cut. Some cells do not grow properly, these cells are known as cancer cells, and they do not behave like normal cells. Leukemia, the white blood cells the ones that fight off infection are the ones that do not grow up as expected and cannot do their jobs.

Every blood cell starts its life in the bone marrow as a hematopoietic stem cell, and this hematopoietic stem cell is responsible for creating all of the different cells in the blood. In order to work properly all cells go through the process of maturation. So, in the end they become mature specialized cells. However, hematopoietic stem cell can messes up, and it makes an immature blast cell which is weird and does not mature like a normal cell. When the gene becomes mutated and it stops working the way that it should, this cell then stops maturing the way that it should. This is the first thing that happens in leukemia. Because of that the patient ends up with a situation where he/she has lots and lots of these immature blast cells and very few of mature specialized cells.

Bone marrow is a contained cavity and there is a very limited amount of space, nutrients, and growth factors, and these cells inside the bone marrow are constantly completing for these resources. Leukemia cells divide very rapidly they take up all of these resources for themselves, and that is why hematopoietic stem cell does not create more normal cells. Gene mutation happens because of radiation, carcinogens, and chromosome translocations which is an error or mistake that is made during cell division, where one part of chromosome become shifted onto another chromosome. Because of that we would have multiple genes being affected, and lots of leukemias are associated with chromosome translocation.

In adults, about 90% of cases of leukemia are diagnosed with the most common being the acute myelogenous leukemia, and the chronic lymphocytic leukemia. For leukemia diagnosis the following tests may be performed: a physical exam where the doctor will look for physical signs such as enlargement of the liver, spleen, and swollen lymph nodes. Blood tests to look for abnormal levels of red or white blood cell or platelets. This may indicate leukemia. Also, bone marrow test, where a sample of the bone marrow is removed and sent to the laboratory to test for leukemia cells. This sample can identify the type of leukemia and its growth rate. Biopsy of other organs such as the liver and the spleen can show if cancer has spread.

Acute leukemia grow very fast, so the person with acute leukemia can start to feel sick, can start to show signs and symptoms within weeks, not years but weeks of the leukemia forming. Chronic leukemia grow very slowly, so patient with chronic leukemia can sometimes go years without having any symptoms at all. Fever or chills easy bleeding or nosebleeds, night sweats, fatigue and weakness that does not go away are the major symptoms of leukemia. Also, patient with leukemia will have bone pain and tenderness, red spots on the skin, bruising easily, and unintended weight loss. Other symptoms would be frequent or severe infections, swollen lymph nodes especially on the neck and armpits, enlarged liver or spleen.

The type of leukemia, age, general health and whether cancer has spread to other parts of the body will determine the treatment option. Treatment option includes radiation therapy that uses powerful, energy beams such as X-rays to kill the cancer cell. Chemotherapy that involves using medication injected intravenously or taken orally to kill the cancer cell. Stem cell transplantation where the diseased bone marrow is replaced with healthy ones. Targeted therapies that use medication to target specific pathways or vulnerabilities present in the cancer cell maybe effective. Immunotherapy that uses treatments that help the auto immune system recognize an attack from Kimia cells.

There are a few important thing to remember about leukemia; the cancer is not contagious, and not patient’s fault. A lot of people in our time have leukemia. The more important thing to do when someone has the sign and symptoms of this type of cancer is to contact with physician, because on the early stage cancer can be treated successfully.