Leukemia is the cancer that develops in blood forming tissues like bone marrow and lymphatic system. Leukemia can be acute (quickly become worse) or chronic (slow cancer). It can either be lymphocytic or myelocytic leukemia. What exactly causes leukemia is still a mystery. But one can reduce the risk factors. Common symptoms of leukemia are loss of weight, ongoing infections, bleeding and night sweats. Chemotherapy and radiation treatment are the major options of treatment and the outlook depends on the age and extent of cancer.
Blood cells are produced by the bone marrow or stem cells. Our body is tuned to produce red blood cells and white blood cells in predefined manner. But in people with leukemia there will be excess production of WBC which will outgrow the level of RBC. Consequently it will affect the growth of healthy blood cells destroying them progressively leading to leukemia.
Types :
Leukemia is of two basic types namely acute and chronic.
- Chronic leukemia develops gradually and get worse slowly and not overnight. An expert doctor can identify chronic leukemia on routine checkups even if there are no symptoms.
- Acute leukemia is dangerous since it develops quickly and worsens your health rapidly. The white blood cells of the affected person cannot do its function anymore and more number of cancerous cells develops in the body.
Some doctors classify leukemia based on which type of WBS is affected. It can affect lymphoid cells (CLL), myeloid cells (CML), lymphoblastic cells (ALL) and acute myeloid cells (AML).
Leukemia Symptoms :
There may be difference in the symptoms of leukemia based on the type of cells that is affected. Some of the general signs of leukemia are persistent fever, chills, fatigue, frequent infection, loss of weight, swelling of lymph nodes in the liver or spleen, small red lesions on the skin, nosebleeds, sharp bone pain and night sweats. The symptoms given above are vague and are present for flu and other type of fever also. Hence it is difficult to diagnose leukemia in initial stages.