Things To Know About Leukemia

Leukemia is a form of cancer impacting blood cells and the bone marrow, the soft tissue inside bones responsible for blood cell production. Blood comprises three vital cell types originating in the bone marrow:

1. White Blood Cells: These combat infections and diseases, including lymphoid and myeloid cells.
2. Red Blood Cells: Transport oxygen from the lungs throughout the body, with a lifespan of approximately 120 days.
3. Platelets: Small cell fragments aiding blood clotting.

In leukemia, abnormal bone marrow cells hinder normal cell functions. The disease progresses as these abnormal cells outnumber and impede the production of normal cells. The pace varies based on the leukemia type.

Common Questions & Answers:

• First signs of leukemia? Early indications include fatigue, paleness, easy bruising, bleeding, and susceptibility to infections.
• Survival with leukemia?
• How leukemia starts?
• Appearance of leukemia bruises?
• Difference between acute and chronic leukemias?

Classifications of Leukemia: Leukemia categorization depends on growth speed and affected blood cell types.

Acute vs. Chronic:

1. Acute Leukemia: Rapid growth, immature cells, necessitating aggressive treatment.
2. Chronic Leukemia: Gradual worsening, involving mature cells growing slowly, allowing some to remain symptom-free for years.

Lymphocytic vs. Myelogenous Leukemia:

1. Lymphocytic Leukemia: Affects lymphoid cells, comprising T and B cells, guiding treatment selection.
2. Myelogenous Leukemia: Affects myeloid cells maturing into various white blood cell types.

Types of Leukemia:

1. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
2. Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)
3. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
4. Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)
5. Rarer forms and preleukemic diseases exist, progressing to AML in some cases.

Leukemia Types:

1. Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL): Fast-growing, more common in children, treated with chemotherapy and stem cell transplants.
2. Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML): Common, affects myeloid cells, treated with chemotherapy and stem cell transplants.
3. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL): Most common in adults, slow-growing, various treatment options.
4. Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML): Less common, managed with targeted therapy, often diagnosed in older adults.
5. Hairy Cell Leukemia: Rare, highly treatable, affecting B cells with a distinctive appearance.

Adult vs. Childhood Leukemia: More prevalent in adults over 55 but also common in children, with ALL being the most common childhood type.

Causes of Leukemia: Uncertain, but risk factors include Down syndrome, inherited conditions, blood disorders, and exposure to certain chemicals and chemotherapy drugs.

Symptoms of Leukemia: Vague symptoms like bleeding, bruising, fatigue, fever, and weight loss. Complications include peripheral neuropathy, kidney damage, anemia, and blood clots.

Diagnosing Leukemia: Tests include blood tests, bone marrow aspiration biopsy, lumbar puncture, chromosome tests, and imaging.

Stages of Leukemia: Staging considers factors like cell counts, age, history of blood disorders, bone damage, and organ enlargement.

Treatment Options: Chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, targeted treatment, stem cell transplantation, and a watch-and-wait approach for certain CLL cases.

Side Effects of Leukemia and Treatment: Treatment side effects include low platelet and red blood cell levels, low neutrophil count, graft-versus-host disease, and skin changes. Survivorship may involve fatigue, “chemo brain,” depression, anxiety, and insomnia.

Leukemia Prognosis: Survival rates vary by type and stage, with overall five-year survival rates improving from 33.4% in 1975 to 70.9% in 2015. Prognosis details for ALL, AML, and CLL are provided.

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