leukemia symptoms

Symptoms of leukemia can be vary from person to person

2008-08-07T02:05:00.000-07:00

Symptoms of leukemia can be vary from person to person. Some patients symptoms may be very mild for a very long time until it is diagnosed by the doctor or develop and this kind of leukemia are called chronic leukemia while some other people may experience severe or acute symptoms and are classified as acute leukemia. Leukemia are said to affects others parts of the body and the lungs

The symptoms are result to the abnormal white cells that may be collect in the brain or the spinal cord thus cause symptoms such as vomiting, headaches, finding unusual skin rashes, loss of muscle control and also result in difficult seeing. Others people may develop sores in the eyes. Others symptoms are finding swollen lymph in the armpits, neck and groin area. Feeling pain in the bone and joint area. Loss of appetite as your stomach feel full most of the time result in weight loss. Swelling in the belly or pain on the left side of the belly or in the left shoulder from a swollen spleen. Experience fevers and night sweats.

Leukemia cancer our bone marrow produce abnormal white cell

2008-05-22T01:04:00.000-07:00

People with leukemia cancer is that their bone marrow produce abnormal white cell called leukemia cells. The types of leukemia are also grouped by the type of white blood cell that is affected. Leukemia can arise in lymphoid cells or myeloid cells. Leukemia that affects lymphoid cells is called lymphocytic leukemia. Leukemia that affects myeloid cells is called myeloid leukemia or myelogenous leukemia. Leukemia can be chronic or acute. Chronic leukemia is the abnormal blood cell still can be function and it will get worse slowly not like acute leukemia it will get worse quickly as the blood cell are very abnormal result in difficult in carry out their normal work.

The symptoms of leukemia are fever and night sweats, most of the time feeling very tired and weak, Having headache quite often, frequent infections, Find pain in the bones and joints and bleeding in the gums and find tiny red spots under the skins or purple patches in the skins. Most leukemia patients will find swollen lymph nodes in the neck or armpit and feeling discomfort in the abdomen due to the enlarge spleen. Weight loss. See your doctor if you experience such symptoms as your doctor can diagnose the problem because such symptoms may not be leukemia cancer it may due to other infection.

Leukemia patients can look forward to live a better quality of life.

2008-03-25T01:39:00.000-07:00

Today leukemia patients had less change of dying from the disease as scientist are studying its causes and treatment to find leukemia patients can look forward to live a better quality of life. a better ways to treat a leukemia. With the latest research on leukemia patients, For leukemia people, the bone barrow produced abnormal white cells which are called leukemia cells.

There are many types of leukemia and the common are chronic leukemia and acute leukemia. For chronic leukemia it is the beginning of the disease where the abnormal blood cells can still functions and most of the chronic leukemia may not show or have any symptoms until the chronic leukemia get worse, then only symptoms appears as the number of leukemia cells in the blood rises. Patients with acute leukemia where by the blood cells cannot carried out its normal works as the number of abnormal cells increases rapidly.

People who works in a chemical plants which are exposure of benzene are at high risk of infecting with this disease. People exposure to very high levels of radiation and cancer patients who are treated with certain cancer fighting drug. Family members who are leukemia patients.

knows the common symptoms of leukemia

2007-12-12T00:22:00.000-08:00

Leukemai is a kind of cancer of the blood and marrow. Its is cause by an over production of white blood cells. This leads to the lack of normal blood cells which result leads to leukemai symptoms. Leukemai is a kind of disease that our body overproducing of immature blood cells which is called stem cells. This cells are immature and can't replace our normal blood cells, with this our body is exposed to many kinds of disease and infection.

Anemia is the most common types of leukemia symptoms which the patients will find their bloodstream had insufficient of red blood cells which leads to risks of bleeding as the patients body has insufficient platelets in the bloodstream, result to nose bleeding, bleeding of the oral cavity and predisposing to bruising. Others kinds of leukemia symptoms are weight loss, stress, loss of appetite, fatique, poor psychical performance and lack of concentration. Some leukemia patients will have symptoms like having enlarge liver and spleen result with abdominal swelling and notice of enlarge lymph nodes. If notice such kinds of symptoms check with your medical professionals.

Acute and chronic leukemia

2007-09-25T01:26:00.000-07:00

Most of the sign and symptoms of leukemia are weight loss, loss of muscle contol and keep complaining of joint pains, fatique, vomitting, fever most of his life time, abnormal bleeding and notice enlarge spleen lymph nodes. Some leukemia patients will developes sores on the skin or in the eyes. While some leukemia patients will show no symptom until the disease has advance to chronic leukemia.

As leukemia is one of dangerous disease it is advisable to see your doctor if you notice such symptom and its a types of cancer that stard in our body that produce blood cell in our bone marrow which are called lymph nodes which are break up into parts namely the acute and chronic leukemia. The function of Acute and chronic are difference in style. The acute are faster progressing leukemia while chronic leukemia slowly progressing leukemia.

Knowing the early symptom of leukemia

2007-07-26T20:19:00.000-07:00

Leukemia like all blood cell travel through our body. The symptoms of leukemia can be the same with other disease, See your doctor as soon as possible if you observed this symptoms cause your doctor can only diagnose and treat the diseases. Most of the common symptons for leukemia are fever or night sweats, feeling weak and tired most of the time, headache, frequent infections, pain in the bones or joint area, weight loss. bleeding and bruising, the bleeding most happen at the gums area, finding purplish patches in the skin and tiny red spots under the skins, swelling or discomfort in the abdomen, swollen lymph nodes at the armpit or the neck area.

The early stage of leukemia are called chronic leukemia where the symptom don't stay very long and may not have symptoms at the beginning. When the leukemia blood cell rises as leukemia is getting worse then it will cause a number of symptoms where most of the doctor refer as acute leukemia as our blood cell became very abnormal and cannot carries their daily works. Acute leukemia worsens when a number of abnormal cells increases rapidly

Most of the symptoms of acute leukemia are vomiting, loss of muscle control, confusion and seizures. The cells can collect in the testicles causing it to swell. Leukemia also can affect the digestive tract, kidneys, lungs, or other parts of the body. Some patients develop sores in the eyes or on the skin.

Second chance for leukaemia man

2007-06-26T23:30:00.000-07:00

A Malaysian doctor, accompanied by a volunteer from the buddhist Tzu Chi organisation, had brought back the 200ml stem cells which was kept in a box at a temperatureof -4c which was witness by many pressman. It was a race against time for the doctor who had to delivered the cell within 24 hours to kuala Lumpur, once it was brought from the hospital in Taiwan.

It differs from bone marrow transplant which requires anaesthesia and extraction of the stem cells directly from the bone marrowsaid the doctor who personally sent the stemcells to the hospital where a blood tranfusionwas successfully carried out on the leukaemia patients Kok Boon.

Kok Boon, a former thchnician was diagnoise with leukaemia in May last year and started six intensive chemotherapies since then.After a year long wait a donors were identified through Buddhist Tzu Chi stem cell centre in Taiwan.

Some leukemia patients exhibit no symptoms

2007-06-05T01:42:00.000-07:00

Leukemia is one of the most dangerous types of cancer that starts in the organs that make blood, namely the bone marrow and the lymph system and its divided into two types, the acute and chronic. Acute leukemias are the rapidly progressing leukemias, while the chronic leukemias progress more slowly. The cells thats produced blood cell in the bone marrow are called lymph system.

The signs and symptoms of leukemia are not quite specific. This is because some symptoms can be found in non-cancer patients as well. The symptoms of people with leukemia are weight loss, enlarge spleen lymph nodes, fatigue, hematoma, abnormal bleeding, abdominal pain, fever most of the time and complaining joint pain. Some leukemia patients exhibit no symptoms until the disease becomes chronic.

If you are suspected of having infected with leukemia disease the doctor will often recommend many testing before confirm that you leukemia patients. The doctor will do a blood test wherein any abnormalities related to leukemia can be seen. The two abnormalities are called anemia and leukocytes. Anemia means that the blood has very low levels of erythrocytes or red blood cells. Leukopenia means that the blood has very low levels of leukocytes or white blood cells.

Symptom of Acute Myeloid Leukemia

2007-04-19T20:29:00.000-07:00

Adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the blood and bone marrow. AML can occur in adults or children AML is often difficult to diagnose. The early signs may be similar to the flu or other common diseases. Other symptoms of acute myeloid leukemia are fever, weakness or tiredness, or achiness in the bones or joints. This leukemia symptoms mostly won't go away and will be off and on.

Once this symptoms is diagonase, the doctor may order blood tests to count the number of each of the different kinds of blood cells. If the results of the blood tests are not normal, a doctor may do a bone marrow biopsy. During this test, a needle is inserted into a bone and a small amount of bone marrow is taken out and looked at under a microscope. A doctor can then tell what kind of leukemia is present and plan the best treatment for the patient.

People with Acute myelogenous leukemia

2007-03-13T01:45:00.000-07:00

Leukemia is an aggressive cancer of the bone marrow and blood. One of the most dangerous and incurable cancer. AML, (acute myelogenous leukemia) is the most common type of leukemia where the blood cells are malformed and useless. The cells can accumulate in parts of the body.

Peoples who is infected with the disease (Acute myelogenous leukemia) are mostly are age above 65 years old. It is very rare to find people who is under 40 years old infected with this disease. The leukemai symptoms of acute myelogenous leukemia include abnormal blood counts, a general run-down, unwell feeling that never gets better, reoccurring infections, swollen lymph nodes, and bone/ joint pain. Symptoms are acute (comes on suddenly, and accelerates quickly) instead of chronic (mild symptoms that gradually worsen over years).

Benzene Leukemia

2007-02-02T08:01:00.000-08:00

Benzene Leukemia is a dangerous life threatening Cancer. The people who developed
Benzene Leukemia are mostly people working long term in chemical oil plants, gas plants and painters. Symptoms of Benzene Leukemia Central Nervous system Disorders, Anemia, and other forms of acute and chronic Leukemia’s.

Several tests can show if you have been exposed to benzene. The test is measured in the blood and had to take quickly as benzene disappears rapidly from the blood.

Green tea help in the fight against cancer

2006-11-22T21:10:00.000-08:00

Reseached found green tea good for health in many way as green tea helps to lower our blood pressure. Drinking green tea also helps to lower our cholesterol and also Green tea has been reported to help in the fight against cancer.

Good about green tea because it contains large amounts of vitamins E and C which are antioxidants. Studies found green tea and green tea extract have many abilities in fighting cancer such as leukemia cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, ovarian and cervical cancer, and pelvic cancer.

Taking green tea as your daily diet will lower the risk of getting cancer.

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treatment of leukemaia

2006-10-30T20:09:00.000-08:00

Leukemia is one of the dangerous diesease that is related to the blood which has access to almost all body organs including the all important brain and heart. The incidence of cancerous cells being carried to the different parts of the body increases drastically due to this fact. Another striking aspect of the blood cancer is that it affects the leukocytes or the “white blood corpuscles” of the blood. These are the ones that protect the body from external infections. Thus the immunity of the body is seen to decrease drastically due to leukemia. The main effect of the disease is that the body starts producing infected and abnormal cells that hinder the function of blood carrying of oxygen.

The treatment of leukemaia are :-

Chemotherapy utilizes chemicals to treat the cancer. It causes many side effects such as hair loss, nausea and decline of the immune system. This is the most common form of treatment for leukemia.

Radiation therapy is another form of treatment. It is painless and in low doses causes very few side effects. Where the radiation is concentrated and the exposure levels will determine the side effects which might damage to the skin, swelling and infertility are among the possible side effects.

A bone marrow transplant is an effective way to prolong the life of cancer patients. It is however a risky surgery and requires a donor which can be difficult in attaining. These surgeries should be performed at state hospitals specializing in cancer treatment. This surgery has a high mortality rate and is therefore used only in life threatening cases.

person is diagnosed with leukemia

2006-10-20T01:08:00.000-07:00

Leukemia is considered one of the most dangerous types of cancer as it affects one of the most important tissues of the body, blood, which has access to almost all of the organs of the body. This increases the chances of cancer cells being carried to other parts of the body where these cells can stay and grow. It is also considered a dangerous disease because it affects the leukocytes, or the white blood cells, which play an important role in the body’s defense against disease. People with leukemia often have compromised immunity. The presence of abnormal cells in the blood hinders the blood from functioning well.

People with leukemia symptoms often exhibit dramatic weight loss, frequent headaches, and bleeding in different organs such as the gums and the nose and the presence of hematomas or bruises on the body.

When a person is diagnosed with leukemia, he is most likely referred to a hematologist-oncologist, who is a doctor that specializes in the treatment of leukemia. After examination, the doctor then suggests the possible treatments that can be employed to treat the leukemia, which will depend on the type and severity of the leukemia. The usual treatment of leukemia is divided into two categories: treatments that are aimed at fighting the cancer and treatments that are aimed at relieving the symptoms and the side effects of the disease.

Chemotherapy is another possible cancer treatments, which involves the use of very powerful medication to kill leukemia cells.

Common leukemia symptoms

2006-10-09T01:13:00.000-07:00

Leukemia is cancer that begins in blood cells and which is usually accompanied by anemia, impaired blood clotting, and enlargement of the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen.
Leukemia occurs in males more often than in females and in white people more often than in black people.

The most common leukemia symptoms are: anemia (insufficient number of red blood cells in the bloodstream), risks of bleeding (insufficient number of platelets in the bloodstream), nose bleeding, bleeding of the oral cavity, predisposition to bruising, high exposure to infections due to lack of white blood cells, improper healing.

Other leukemia symptoms may be fatigue, lack of concentration, poor psychical performance, fever, loss of appetite and weight loss.

Benzene Leukemia life threatening Cancer

2006-10-02T00:55:00.000-07:00

Leukemia in commonly defined as cancer of white blood cells, in which bone marrow excessively produces immature abnormal white blood cells which fills up the bone marrow spaces and ultimately spills into the peripheral blood, thereby spreading to different parts of the body.
Benzene is a known carcinogen in humans and causes benzene related cancer. Breathing benzene vapors may cause immediate death and other exposures to the chemical have been linked to various forms of leukemia, most notably Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML).

In the body, benzene is converted to products called metabolites. Certain metabolites can be measured in the urine. However, this test must be done shortly after exposure and is not a reliable indicator of how much benzene you have been exposed to, since the metabolites may be present in urine from other sources.

Benzene Leukemia is a dangerous life threatening Cancer that develop as a result of Long term exposure to excessive levels of Benzene. In addition to Benzene leukemia People suffers from other abnormalities such as, Chromosomal abnormalities, Central Nervous system Disorders, Anemia, And may be some other forms of acute and chronic Leukemia’s.

Employees working in Chemical oil Industries, and gas plants, painters and Other industrial solvent users, are at more risk to Benzene Exposure On long term Exposure to this type of Benzene bye products causes Leukemic Cancer of Blood Forming Organs.

Several tests can show if you have been exposed to benzene. There is test for measuring benzene in the breath; this test must be done shortly after exposure. Benzene can also be measured in the blood, however, since benzene disappears rapidly from the blood, measurements are accurate only for recent exposures.

leukemia causes

2006-09-20T20:47:00.000-07:00

The direct leukemia causes are still unknown. In present, medical science isn’t able to establish the specific leukemia disease causes. However, a strong connection between certain genetic factors and the development of the disease has been revealed. Leukemia occurs on the background of genetic failure that causes the excessive production of incomplete, partially matured blood cells. Also, leukemia has a hereditary character, allowing the transmission of genetic predispositions to disease from one generation to another. Although many factors are known to contribute to the development of leukemia, they alone can’t be considered leukemia causes.

Leukemia is basically a type of cancer of the bone marrow and blood, caused by inappropriate cellular activity. The disease can be of different forms, according to the types of blood cells that cause its development. Also, if leukemia is developing rapidly, it is called acute leukemia, while if the disease is developing slowly, it is referred to as chronic leukemia.

Genetic factors that are considered to be leukemia causes chromosome abnormalities – some rare genetic syndromes are known to contribute to leukemia causes;

- Immune system genetic problems - a weak immune system is very likely to facilitate the occurrence of leukemia and therefore can be considered a leukemia cause;

- Down syndrome – children born with this syndrome have a very high risk of developing acute leukemia.

leukemia symptoms : Leukemia and Infections

2006-09-12T01:07:00.000-07:00

Common infections that affect mothers and babies may trigger certain types of childhood cancers. Leukemia and brain tumors, leading cancers in children, occur in clusters, which suggests that outbreaks of infections are a contributing cause of the disease. These infections could be minor, common illnesses...such a cold, mild flu or a respiratory infection. Leukemia is the most common childhood cancer, accounting for nearly one third of all cases. Most of the rise has been in children ages 1 to 4. An infection in the womb or early in life could lead to cancer in young people who carry mutant cells that would make them more vulnerable to the disease. The virus would hit this mutant cell and cause a second mutation, prompting the onset of cancers like leukemia or brain tumors.

Viruses and Leukemia
Viruses of the retrovirus and herpesvirus families may potentially cause certain human leukemias and lymphomas. The human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 causes adult T-cell leukemia. Influenza virus may also be a cause.
From 1974 to 2000, peaks in the rate of the acute lymphoblastic type of leukemia (ALL) among children in the UK seem to have occurred immediately after influenza epidemics. Perhaps some childhood leukemia may be triggered by infection occurring close to the time of diagnosis of leukemia. The findings are based on an analysis of data from the National Registry of Childhood Tumours, which covers the entire childhood population of the UK. During the 27-year period covered by the study, the rate of childhood ALL increased by 0.7 percent annually, on average. However, the rate spiked upward slightly in 1976 and 1990, just after influenza epidemics. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, March 15, 2006.

by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

leukemia symptoms : Green tea and Leukemia

2006-09-12T01:04:00.000-07:00

Green tea may help treat a form of adulthood leukemia. Doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, found that of four patients who started drinking green tea or taking green tea extracts, three showed clear improvements in their condition in the following months. The patients all had chronic lymphocytic leukemia, or CLL, a form of leukemia that usually arises during or after middle-age and typically progresses slowly. Like all types of leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow, in which abnormal white blood cells replace healthy blood cells. What's particularly interesting about these four cases, according to Dr. Tait Shanafelt, is that the patients all started using green tea on their own, after hearing media reports about a lab study Shanafelt and his colleagues conducted. That study showed that one compound found in green tea, known as EGCG, was able to kill cancer cells that were taken from chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients and put in a test tube with the tea compound. After the findings were published, the doctors became aware of four chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients at their center who had started using green tea products and seemed to be doing better. In interviewing the patients and reviewing their records, the doctors found that three showed signs of a regression in their cancer after they started to drink green tea or take green tea capsules. The fourth had an improvement in her white blood cell count, though her disease remained unchanged by standard criteria. In one case, the patient had been showing progressive swelling in her lymph nodes - one of the characteristics of chronic lymphocytic leukemia - before she starting taking green tea capsules twice a day. Over the next year, her lymph nodes steadily decreased in size. These cases alone cannot prove that green tea or its extracts conferred the benefits. An answer to that question, he said, awaits the outcome of an ongoing clinical trial he is leading. The study, sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, is testing the effects of a purified EGCG extract in treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia. SOURCE: Leukemia Research, online December 1, 2005.

by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

leukemia symptoms : How adult acute myeloid leukemia is treated

2006-08-30T01:46:00.000-07:00

There are treatments for all patients with AML. The primary treatment of AML is chemotherapy. Radiation therapy may be used in certain cases. Bone marrow transplantation and biological therapy are being studied in clinical trials.
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Drugs may be given by mouth, or they may be put into the body by a needle in a vein or muscle. Chemotherapy is called a systemic treatment because the drug enters the bloodstream, travels through the body, and can kill cancer cells throughout the body. Chemotherapy may sometimes be put into the fluid that surrounds the brain through a needle in the brain or back (intrathecal chemotherapy).

Radiation therapy uses x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation for AML usually comes from a machine outside the body (external radiation therapy).

If the leukemia cells have spread to the brain, radiation therapy to the brain or intrathecal chemotherapy will be given.

There are two phases of treatment for AML. The first stage is called induction therapy. The purpose of induction therapy is to kill as many of the leukemia cells as possible and make patients go into remission. Once in remission with no signs of leukemia, patients enter a second phase of treatment (called continuation therapy), which tries to kill any remaining leukemia cells. Chemotherapy may be given for several years to keep a patient in remission.

Bone marrow transplantation is used to replace the bone marrow with healthy bone marrow. First, all of the bone marrow in the body is destroyed with high doses of chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy. Healthy marrow is then taken from another person (a donor) whose tissue is the same as or almost the same as the patient's. The donor may be a twin (the best match), a brother or sister, or a person who is not related. The healthy marrow from the donor is given to the patient through a needle in the vein, and the marrow replaces the marrow that was destroyed. A bone marrow transplant using marrow from a relative or from a person who is not related is called an allogeneic bone marrow transplant.

Another type of bone marrow transplant, called autologous bone marrow transplant, is being studied in clinical trials. To do this type of transplant, bone marrow is taken from the patient and treated with drugs to kill any cancer cells. The marrow is then frozen to save it. Next, high-dose chemotherapy is given with or without radiation therapy to destroy all of the remaining marrow. The frozen marrow that was saved is then thawed and given to the patient through a needle in a vein to replace the marrow that was destroyed.

Another type of autologous transplant is called a peripheral blood stem cell transplant. The patient's blood is passed through a machine that removes the stem cells (immature cells from which all blood cells develop), then returns the blood to the patient. This procedure is called leukapheresis and usually takes 3 or 4 hours to complete. The stem cells are treated with drugs to kill any cancer cells and then frozen until they are transplanted to the patient. This procedure may be done alone or with an autologous bone marrow transplant.

A greater chance for recovery occurs if the doctor chooses a hospital that does more than five bone marrow transplantations per year.

Biological therapy tries to get the body to fight cancer. It uses materials made by the patient's body or made in a laboratory to boost, direct, or restore the body's natural defenses against disease. Biological therapy is sometimes called biological response modifier therapy or immunotherapy.

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leukemia symptoms : What is adult acute myeloid leukemia?

2006-08-30T01:43:00.000-07:00

Adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the blood and bone marrow. AML is also called acute nonlymphocytic leukemia or ANLL. The bone marrow is the spongy tissue inside the large bones in the body. The bone marrow makes red blood cells (which carry oxygen and other materials to all tissues of the body), white blood cells (which fight infection), and platelets (which make the blood clot).
Normally, the bone marrow makes cells called blasts that develop (mature) into several different types of blood cells that have specific jobs to do in the body. AML affects the blasts that are developing into white blood cells called granulocytes. In AML, the blasts do not mature and become too numerous. These immature blast cells are then found in the blood and the bone marrow.

Leukemia can be acute (progressing quickly with many immature blasts) or chronic (progressing slowly with more mature looking cancer cells). Acute myeloid leukemia progresses quickly. AML can occur in adults or children (refer to the PDQ summaries on Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treatment and Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treatment for more information). (Refer to the PDQ summaries on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treatment; Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Treatment; Adult Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Treatment; and Hairy Cell Leukemia Treatment for more information.)

AML is often difficult to diagnose. The early signs may be similar to the flu or other common diseases. A doctor should be seen if the following signs or symptoms won't go away: fever, weakness or tiredness, or achiness in the bones or joints.

If there are symptoms, a doctor may order blood tests to count the number of each of the different kinds of blood cells. If the results of the blood tests are not normal, a doctor may do a bone marrow biopsy. During this test, a needle is inserted into a bone and a small amount of bone marrow is taken out and looked at under a microscope. A doctor can then tell what kind of leukemia is present and plan the best treatment.

The chance of recovery (prognosis) depends on the type of AML and the patient's age and general health.

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leukemia symptoms : Laboratory Tests

2006-08-30T01:32:00.000-07:00

Complete blood count (CBC) and differential
These are routine tests that are ordered to count the number and relative proportion of each of the different types of cells in the blood stream. They give your doctor information about the relative maturity of the blood cells present and they can provide the first evidence that a person has leukemia. Irregularities in cell counts, such as elevated WBC counts or low red blood cell counts may be due to leukemia or to a variety of temporary or chronic conditions, but blasts (very immature WBCs) are not normally seen in the blood. If they are present, some kind of leukemia is likely, and follow-up testing is indicated. The CBC and differential are used to help diagnose leukemia and are important tools to monitor the effectiveness of treatment and to detect recurrence.

Bone marrow aspiration/biopsy
Bone marrow exists as a matrix of fibrous supporting tissue, fluid, undifferentiated stem cells (that have the capability of becoming any of the different types of blood cells), and a mixture of blasts and maturing blood cells. If your doctor suspects leukemia, he will often order a bone marrow aspiration or biopsy to actually look at the cell-producing fluid and tissue in the marrow. A pathologist, or other specialist then examines the marrow sample (bone and/or fluid) under the microscope, evaluating the number, size, and shape of each of the cell types, as well as the proportions of mature and immature cells. If leukemia is present, the type and severity of the disease can be determined.

Spinal tap (lumbar puncture)
If leukemia is found in the bone marrow a spinal tap may also be done to look for leukemia cells in the cerebrospinal fluid.

Flourescent in situ hybridization (FISH)
This is a molecular cytogenetic test used to investigate chromosomal abnormalities associated with leukemias, other cancers, and genetic disorders. The test can be performed using a variety of samples including blood and bone marrow. Its main advantage is that non-dividing, uncultured cells can be used to help establish or confirm a diagnosis using this method.

Non-Laboratory Tests
X-rays are sometimes used to look for signs of the disease (tumors and masses of cells) in areas such as the chest. Other imaging scans may also be used to evaluate the status of body organs such as the spleen, liver, and kidney.

Treatments
In general, cure and remission rates of leukemia continue to improve for both children and adults.

Specific treatment depends on the type, severity, and symptoms. The goals of treatment are to address the cell shortages that are causing symptoms, push the leukemia into remission, and, if possible, kill all of the abnormal white blood cells -- allowing normal cells to reproduce and restore blood cell function.

Symptomatic treatment may include red blood cell and/or platelet transfusions and antibiotic therapy. If the spleen is too swollen, it may need to be surgically removed. Treatment of the leukemia may include chemotherapy drugs and radiation — both to kill cells and to relieve pain. If leukemia cells have migrated into the cerebrospinal fluid, chemotherapy drugs that are injected directly into the spinal fluid may be required.

In some cases bone marrow samples may be taken from the patient, "cleaned" of abnormal cells, and frozen to be reintroduced into the same patient following treatment. Allogeneic bone marrow transplants (using a marrow sample from a compatible donor -- most frequently a family member) can be used to cure many cases of acute leukemia. Bone marrow transplants may be considered when other treatment regimens have failed to push the leukemia into remission, or when the leukemia has recurred.

Patients with chronic leukemia may not need treatment for years, until the number of WBCs begins to increase, and/or the number of red blood cells or platelets decreases. Over-treatment of chronic leukemia may be worse than under-treatment, because drugs won't cure the condition or prolong the patient's survival and they may cause severe side effects.

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leukemia symptoms : Understanding and Recognizing

2006-08-24T03:51:00.000-07:00

Leukemia is a sort of cancer of the blood and marrow. The disease is characterized through the overproducing of immature blood cells (stem cells) that aren’t able to fully develop and carry out the activities of normal blood cells.

Each type of mature blood cells has specific traits and roles inside the body. White blood cells or leukocytes have an important role in the immune system, contributing to overcome infections. White blood cells also help in healing flesh wounds and cuts. Red blood cells or erythrocytes contain hemoglobin, which has a great importance in transporting oxygen to the cells within the organism. Red blood cells are vital for the process of cell respiration, carrying oxygen to cells and removing carbon dioxide from them. Platelets have an important role in repairing damage at the level of blood vessels, accumulating to seal any cuts or tares.

Leukemia leads to the accumulation and crowding of diseased stem cells at the level of the bone marrow, which decreases the normal production of healthy blood cells. The lack of normal blood cells leads to the appearance of leukemia symptoms. It is important to understand that despite the fact that leukemia causes an over production of white blood cells, these cells are immature and can’t substitute for normal blood cells. Due to this, the body is exposed to many forms of infection.

The most common leukemia symptoms are: anemia (insufficient number of red blood cells in the bloodstream), risks of bleeding (insufficient number of platelets in the bloodstream), nose bleeding, bleeding of the oral cavity, predisposition to bruising, high exposure to infections due to lack of white blood cells, improper healing.

Other leukemia symptoms may be fatigue, lack of concentration, poor psychical performance, fever, loss of appetite and weight loss.

In the case of chronic leukemia, which facilitates the accumulation of diseased blood cells in different places inside the body, the leukemia symptoms may be migraines, insomnia, decreased vision and hearing, loss of balance, faints and seizures. Some of these leukemia symptoms need immediate medical intervention, as they may lead to further complications.

Sometimes people with leukemia may have enlarged liver and spleen, causing abdominal swelling or enlarged lymph nodes. The body glands of the organism can also be affected by leukemia.

Leukemia symptoms have a non-specific character. This means that they can be misleading in establishing an appropriate diagnose, as they may also occur in the cases of other diseases. Medical professionals are the only persons able to distinguish leukemia from other illnesses with resembling symptoms. Proper diagnose is very important in order to quickly begin the administration of specific treatment. Blood analysis and careful body examinations can reveal the presence of leukemia. Leukemia is considered to have a high rate of mortality and although the disease can be overcome through treatment and therapy, it can cause death if its presence is not noticed in time. Therefore, prompt intervention is required for leukemia, regardless of its type.

By Groshan Fabiola

leukemia symptoms : A Guide To Leukemia

2006-08-24T03:46:00.000-07:00

Being diagnosed with cancer is devastating; cancer is a very serious disease that has caused the deaths of a lot of people. However, given recent developments in medicine and in technology, the treatments used to treat cancers are now becoming more potent and effective, and in some cases, treatments are successful at eradicating certain forms of cancers.

In addition to treatment, one of the most powerful tools in the battle against cancer is information; a better understanding of a disease can help an individual to avoid certain risk factors that could prevent full recovery. This principle applies to most diseases, especially to those that are considered very serious. One of these diseases is leukemia, which, in simpler terms, is cancer of the blood. Following is some information on this disease.

Leukemia facts

Leukemia is considered one of the most dangerous types of cancer as it affects one of the most important tissues of the body: blood, which has access to almost all of the organs of the body. This increases the chances of cancer cells being carried to other parts of the body where these cells can stay and grow. It is also considered a dangerous disease because it affects the leukocytes, or the white blood cells, which play an important role in the body’s defense against disease; people with leukemia often have compromised immunity. The presence of abnormal cells in the blood hinders the blood from functioning well.

With regard to symptoms, people with leukemia symptoms often exhibit dramatic weight loss, frequent headaches, and bleeding in different organs such as the gums and the nose. Another common symptom is the presence of hematomas or bruises on the body. The usual treatment of this disease is chemotherapy, where patients are given oral drugs that target cancer cells. Another common treatment is radiation, which can have certain side effects such as the loss of hair.

Leukemia is a very dangerous disease because it affects the blood. However, it is still curable, as recent developments in treatments and research have made some headway in effectively treating the disease. Together with this, people should also realize that one of the most important weapons against this disease is information, which can help people deal better with this dreaded disease.

By Jennifer Bailey

leukemia symptoms : Chemotherapy

2006-08-15T21:34:00.000-07:00

Patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) usually receive chemotherapy drugs as soon as possible after diagnosis. Chemotherapy uses strong cancer drugs to kill leukemia cells. This first stage of treatment is called induction therapy. The goal is to achieve remission (no signs of leukemia cells) and to restore normal blood production.

Common chemotherapy drugs given during induction therapy include daunorubicin, doxorubicin, and cytarabine. These cancer drugs kill the leukemia cells by stopping them from growing. Unfortunately, chemotherapy also kills normal cells, so AML patients receiving induction therapy may have side effects including nausea, tiredness, and higher risk of infections.

For most patients, induction therapy brings back normal blood cell production within a few weeks, and microscopic examinations of their blood and marrow samples show no signs of leukemia cells. When this happens, the disease is in remission. At this point, several long-term treatment choices may be considered. These include further chemotherapy or a blood stem cell transplant.

by Nielsen Technical Services