What is Leukemia?
Leukaemia is a form of cancer, which attacks the white blood cells. The two main different forms of leukemia are lymphoblastic (of the lymph glands) and myeloblastic (of the bone marrow). Acute leukaemia is a malignancy of the formation of blood. The disease can be either acute or chronic and it affects around 1 in 10,000 people per year.
Symptoms Of Leukemia
Acute symptoms may last a few weeks or months and can include:
Pallor
Purpuric rash
Flu-like feeling with raised temperature
Swollen lymph glands and spleen
Weight loss
Recurrent infections and lethargy
Chronic symptoms are more gradual in onset and include:
Swelling of abdomen
Enlargement of neck glands
Pallor and palpitation
Shortness of breath
Haemorrhages in stomach, nose, gums and bowel
Causes Of Leukemia
Irrespective of the type of leukemia, the cause is due to an overproduction of white blood cells. Acute leukemia is a malignancy of the formation of blood. There is bone marrow failure due to the proliferation of cells that replace the bone marrow. More common in men than women, it can occur at any age, but the acute lymphoblastic type is particularly common in children under 5. It is thought that exposure to some chemicals, drugs or radiation may increase the risk of contracting the disease. However, the real cause is unknown.
Treatment for Leukemia
In some cases, particularly the elderly, treatment can be unpleasant as it involves rigorous procedures with regard to destroying the leukaemic cells. This depends upon the type and severity, but may include: chemotherapy, radiation therapy, blood-filtering and bone marrow transplantation. In remission, it is important that the patient keeps a positive attitude, and eats a healthy diet.
Dr. A. Bose © Allcures.com September 2011