Neoplastic Blood: Leukemia

Oct 10, 2014 Ruchira Dhoke Did You Know?, Lifestyle & Health 0

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“She stood strong in the storm called “cancer”, when the wind didn’t blow her way, she didn’t perish she adjusted her sails”

The cancer which targets the blood cells is termed as Leukemia.

It is known that the blood contains different types of cells such as red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets. Their normal life cycle which includes formation, growth, function and death is controlled by the bone marrow. If this control for some reason is lost for the WBCs, leukemia is born. There is an abnormally high number of WBCs circulating in the blood which fail to carry out their normal function which is to fight infections and heal the wounds, multiply randomly and do not have a death time.

These cells do not know where to go, they start crowding ultimately forming clumps.

The types of leukemia are grouped in two ways based on how rapidly the disease develops (acute vs. chronic leukemia) and the type of blood cell involved (lymphocytic and myeloid leukemia). In acute leukemia, bone marrow cells are immature and are unable to function normally. The number of abnormal cells increases rapidly. In chronic leukemia, cells are more mature and can carry out some of their normal functions. The number of abnormal cells increases more slowly.

The most common types of leukemia are: acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML. In children acute lymphocytic leukemia is the most common cancer. In adults, acute myeloid leukemia is the most commonly occurring type, followed by chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Leukemia generally is the most common cancer in children. It disrupts the functions of the immune system there by causing fever and infections. It later interferes with the formation of other blood cells ultimately resulting in anemia and bleeding problems. A leukemic child looks pale, is often breathless and bruises and bleeds easily for a prolonged period of time. The leukemia cells accumulate in different organs in the body thereby triggering a set of symptoms like headaches, confusion, joint or bone pains, and painful swellings.

A damaged or mutated DNA initiates the leukemia initiates in white blood cells. The damage to DNA activates the oncogenes (cancer-promoting genes) and deactivates the tumor suppressor genes (cancer-preventing genes). The abnormal DNA is thus copied and passed on to many cell generations, which do not get matured or die but instead multiply and accumulate within the body causing the complications of leukemia.

DNA damage may be caused by a combination of genetic susceptibility factors and environmental exposures:

Age: About 60-70% of leukemics are older than 50 years.

Chemicals and radiation: The risk of developing acute leukemia increases in individuals exposed to hazardous chemicals (benzene) or to radiation.

Smoking: Cigarette smoking was the cause of leukemia in many reported adult cases.

Viruses: The human T-cell leukemia virus I (HTLV-I) causes acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).

Genetic: Leukemia risk is increased 15-fold among children with Down syndrome, Fanconi anemia (a blood disorder associated with chromosomal breakage), neurofibromatosis and Li-Fraumeni syndrome (inherited cancer diseases), Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (inherited immunodeficiency disease), Klinfelter syndrome (males with this condition have an extra X chromosome)etc.

Diagnosis and Management of Leukemia:

The diagnosis of leukemia is not based on symptoms only since these can be mimicked by other conditions.

Some of the warning signs of leukemia include:

1. Fever, chills and other flu-like symptoms
2. Weakness and fatigue
3. Frequent infections
4. Loss of appetite
5. Weight loss
6. Swollen or tender lymph nodes, liver or spleen
7. Easy bleeding or bruising
8. Tiny red spots under the skin
9. Swollen or bleeding gums
10. Sweating, especially at night
11. Bone or joint pain
12. Anemia

Tests for confirmation include blood cell counts, liver and kidney function evaluation, spinal fluid analysis, bone marrow biopsy and analysis. Chromosomes are also checked for irregularities in DNA. After confirmation, the cancer is classified and correlated with the age and WBCs count in view of the appropriate treatment.

Aside from addressing the symptoms of leukemia, medical treatment designed to cure involves chemotherapy, interferon therapy and in certain cases a designated monoclonal antibody. Radiation therapy may be used although it carries significant side effects. Stem cell transplantation is a complementary treatment.

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• Diagnosis leukemia, Neoplastic Blood

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