Leukemia and the symptoms

 Leukemia and the symptoms

Keywords: Leukemia symptoms, Leukemia treatment, Leukemia causes, Leukemia diagnosis, Types of leukemia, Leukemia symptoms in adults, Leukemia in children, What is the first sign of leukemia

Before discussing leukemia, it is appropriate to say only about hematopoietic tissue, but the blood consists of a fluid called plasma and three cell types that are:

Platelets: their role is to help clot blood and control the blood from clotting too slowly or too fast.

White blood cells: their function is to protect the body against infections and diseases. They are divided into lymphocytes and myelocytes.

Red blood cells: their function is to transport oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the tissues, and carbon dioxide back so that the body can get rid of it. The red blood cells give the blood the color it needs.

Leukemia is a type of cancer. Cancer has in common that certain cells in the body become abnormal and have an abnormal and meaningless proliferation. Leukemia is defined as a tumor-like increase in the precursors of white blood cells, which are classified according to the type of cell in which the proliferation occurs. Tumor growth in hematopoietic tissue usually differs from other tumor tissue in that it is not a specific tumor growth but the tumor cells grow distributed throughout the bone marrow and also the cells grow into various other tissues causing the general enlargement of those organs, but there are rarely limited tumors. to discuss.

There are several types of leukemia and it is classified according to how fast the disease progresses and on the other hand what type of cell it is that multiplies abnormally. Acute leukemia is characterized by immature cells that are unable to perform their intended function and the disease progresses rapidly. Chronic leukemia is characterized by cells that are more mature and can play their role in part, and therefore the course of the disease is slower. Leukemia can occur in both lymphocytes and myeloma.

The most common types of leukemia are:

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL = acute lymphocytic leukemia). This form is most common in children and adolescents but is also seen in adults and especially the age group 65 years and older.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This form is seen at all ages but usually in adults.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). This form is most commonly seen in the age group 55 years and older, it is seen in younger individuals but is rare in children.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). This form is most common in the elderly, it is rare to see this form in children.

 

The causes of leukemia are not known, although it is known that ionizing radiation, viruses, genes and various chemicals can play a role. The role of these factors in the disease is still being studied. What is known, however, is that the disease is more common in men than women and more common in white people than dark people.

Patients with leukemia have abnormal white blood cells that can not play their role in preventing disease and infection, and these individuals often get infection and fever. Leukemia also means that the growth of other hematopoietic cells is disrupted to some extent. As a result, there is often a lack of red blood cells, which means that the transport of oxygen to the tissues is not sufficient and these patients become tired, weak and pale to look at. There may also be a decrease in platelets and therefore these patients may bleed abnormally at the slightest occasion and they are also prone to bruising.

The main symptoms of leukemia are:

Weakness and fatigue

Frequent infections

Fever, chills and other flu-like symptoms

Anorexia, which often accompanies dieting

Night sweats

Swollen lymph nodes

Spotting, there are small red spots the size of a pinhead can be seen on the skin

Bruises with minor injuries

Inflammation and bleeding in the gums

Pain in bones and joints

 

In leukemia, the abnormal white blood cells, which are the actual cancer cells, can accumulate in the brain and / or spinal cord. This causes the patient to experience headaches, nausea and vomiting, dizziness and seizures. The same is true for all other organs, testicles, gastrointestinal tract, lungs and so on, that leukemia cells can accumulate there and it depends on the organs what the symptoms are.