Leukemia A Blood Disorder

Leukemia is a blood cancer in which there is an abnormal production or multiplication of blood cells, to be more specific white blood cells also called leukocytes. It belongs to a large group of blood disorders called “hematological neoplasms”.

The symptoms that individuals may notice are night sweats, flu-like symptoms, fever and chills, a general weakness or feeling of fatigue, swollen or bleeding gums, headaches, an enlarged liver and spleen, bone pain, joint pain and frequent infections. They may also experience dizziness, nausea or vomiting, swollen tonsils, paleness of skin, unexplained weight loss and diarrhea.

Individuals with leukemia typically have high number of white blood cells, or extra white blood cells that are immature in shape or are dysfunctional. The presence of these abnormal cells creates an imbalance in the blood count.

There are different types of leukemia. Although there is no single cause for all the different types of leukemia, researchers suspect that certain chemicals in our environment may be a contributing cause, viruses may also have a role in developing leukemia and there may also be a genetic predisposition for this type of blood disorder.

It is difficult to pinpoint how to prevent something when there is no clear-cut cause for the blood disorder.

There are many treatment options for those suffering from leukemia. Managing the disease is based on controlling bone marrow and systemic disease, and preventing the spread of leukemic cells to other sites in the body, especially to prevent them from spreading to the central nervous system (CNS).

There are phases to the treatment of the blood disorder including induction chemotherapy in order to bring bone marrow into remission. Drugs used for induction chemotherapy include prednisone, vincristine, and anthracycline. Next is the consolidation therapy or intensification therapy which is a high-dose multi-drug treatment using antimetabolite drugs, and 6-mercaptopurine. Preventative therapy of CNS prophylaxis which helps to stem the spread of the blood cancer, which may include radiation of the head and drugs, delivered directly to the spine. Maintenance treatments for up to three years once remission has been achieved. High risk or relapsed patients may face allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

There are different types of treatment for the different types of leukemia. The different types of leukemia include acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), and also hairy cell leukemia (HCL).

Because leukemia is a broad-spectrum umbrella for different types all with different treatments it is important to understand what type of leukemia pertains to the individual. This is definitely not a one size fits all blood disorder. Leukemia strikes individuals of all ages even the very young. It is sad when the very young are struck down before they really have a chance to enjoy life. Blood disorders are serious because they deal with what is vital to life – blood.

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