blood cancer
Blood cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in humans, the most common, and some sources indicate that the first case was discovered by the disease was a European doctor in the nineteenth century, called the disease name: leukemia, also called Name: Leukemia, this word is Greek origin, it is composed of two Greek words, namely: leukos means white, haima means blood, the sum of these two words means leukemia.
Blood cancer begins with bone marrow injury. It is the tissue found in most of the body’s bones. It is the place where various blood cells are made, such as white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. In the case of leukemia, the bone marrow begins to produce large numbers of abnormal white blood cells called cancer cells. These cells do not function normally, grow rapidly, and do not stop growing when necessary. Over time, cancer cells begin to compete with normal white blood cells, and this can lead to serious complications such as anemia, bleeding and frequent infections. Cancer cells can also spread to contract lymph nodes or neighboring organs, causing pain and swelling.
There are several types of leukemia, which are divided according to the speed of development of the disease, and according to the type of cells that make up, so the species:
- Lymphoblastic leukemia: It is the most common type in children, and may also affect adults.
- Acute myeloid leukemia: It is a common type of leukemia, affecting children and adults, and is considered the most common species in adults.
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia: It is the most common chronic type, and it is possible that the patient will feel good for years without any treatment.
- Chronic myeloid leukemia: This type affects adults mainly, and may not feel any symptoms for months or years before entering the stage of growing cancer cells very quickly.
- It refers to the lymphoid type; it affects the tissue or lymphocytes that form the immune system, while the spinal cord infects the stem cells that produce red and white blood cells and platelet cells.
Factors that increase the chance of leukemia
There are several factors that may increase the chance of getting a type of leukemia.
- Undergo treatment for previous cancer : People who have undergone certain types of chemotherapy or radiotherapy for other cancer treatments are more likely than others to develop certain types of leukemia.
- Genetic imbalances : The presence of these imbalances may play an important role in the incidence of leukemia, most notably Down syndrome.
- Exposure to certain chemicals : Exposure to chemicals such as gasoline, used in several industries, is associated with an increased incidence of several types of leukemia.
- Smoking : Cigarette smoking increases the chance of acute myeloid leukemia.
- A family history of leukemia .
Symptoms of leukemia
Symptoms of leukemia differ from one type to another, but there are common symptoms, including:
- Fatigue and general fatigue; due to the low number of red blood cells and platelets.
- High temperature.
- Bleeding from the nose, gums or anus, as well as frequent bruising on the body, and severe menstrual bleeding.
- There are bulges in the glands in the neck, armpit or thigh.
- Shortness of breath.
- Pain in the joints, muscles and bones.
- Fever and night sweats.
- Frequent and serious infections occur.
- Loss of appetite and weight.
Diagnosis of leukemia
Blood cancer is diagnosed by following several steps, the most important of which are:
- Clinical examination : Where the examination of the physical signs of leukemia; as skin pigmentation due to anemia, or swelling of the lymph nodes in different parts of the body, or enlargement of the liver and spleen.
- blood test : This test shows any abnormalities in the number of white blood cells or platelets, which raises suspicion of leukemia.
- Bone marrow examination : This examination is done by taking a biopsy of the bone marrow (usually pelvic bone) mediated by a long needle and a thin, looking at the sample of cancer cells and is conducted several specialized tests on them to know the specific characteristics of these cells to help determine the type of treatment.
Treatment of leukemia
Determining the type of treatment for leukemia depends on several factors, such as the age of the patient, his general state of health and the type of cancer he has suffered, and also depends on the spread of the disease elsewhere. Common types of leukemia treatment are as follows:
- Chemotherapy : The most important forms of treatment of leukemia, using chemical compounds to kill cancer cells. Depending on the type of cancer, the patient is given either one type of medication or compound drugs, and is in the form of tablets taken orally or intravenous injection.
- Biotherapy : This type aims to help the body’s immune system to identify and attack cancer cells.
- Treatment directed : Used drugs that attack specific weaknesses of cancer cells. For example, Imatinip inhibits the action of a specific protein within cancer cells in chronic myeloid leukemia, which helps control the disease.
- Radiation therapy : This type uses X-rays and other types of high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells and stop growth.
- Stem cell therapy : A process in which bone marrow is replaced by a healthy patient. Before undergoing this treatment, the patient receives large doses of chemotherapy or radiotherapy to destroy the infected bone marrow. The patient is then transferred to stem cells to rebuild the bone marrow.