everything you need to know about leukaemia

8/14/2019 Everything You Need to Know About Leukaemia

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Issued by the HCG Center for Blood Diseases

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LEUKAEMIA


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Leukaemia is a type of cancer

Its a disease of the bone marrow, the part of the body that makes

blood cells. In leukaemia the body makes too many abnormal white

blood cells, which may cause

Infections

Leukemic cells lack the infection-ghting ability of normal white blood

cells.

Anaemia

Production of red blood cells drops as leukemic cells ood the marrow.

Excessive Bleeding

Clotting ability decreases the number of platelets (tiny disks in the

blood needed for clotting) is very low. New treatments mean improved

chances of survival for many patients.

There is no known way to prevent leukaemia, but it can be treated

effectively. Today, modern treatments offer more hope than ever before

to people who have leukaemia.

There are two main types

and several varieties of each type.

Lymphocytic Leukaemia

marked by an increased number of white blood cells called

lymphocytes. These cells are made in the lymph glands and bone

marrow. In lymphocytic leukaemia, most lymphocytes produced are

abnormal or immature.

Myelogenous Leukaemia*marked by an increase in white blood cells called granulocytes. These

are made in the marrow. Normal granulocytes play a crucial role in the

bodys defence against infection, but leukemic granulocytes lack this

ability. * This type is also called myeloid or myelocytic leukaemia.


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Leukaemia Can Occur In Either Of 2 Forms:

Acute Progresses Rapidly

Life expectancy is short without treatment (a few weeks to a few

months). But drug treatment has extended life expectancy for children

with acute lymphocytic leukaemia and about 80% are cured. (A smaller

proportion of adults with acute lymphocytic leukaemia are cured.) Acute

leukaemia is the type most often seen in children, though it can occur

at any age. It accounts for about one-half of leukaemia cases.

Chronic Progresses Slowly

With appropriate treatment, progression of the disease may be

stopped and extended periods of well-being and normal activities can

be achieved. Chronic leukaemia occurs most often in adults, but can

occur at any age. It accounts for about one-half of leukaemia cases.

Normal Blood Cells Leukaemia Cells

Acute

Acute Leukaemia Affects:

Red Blood Cells

These essential cells carry oxygen to all parts of the body. Made in the

bone marrow, there are billions in a drop of blood.

IN LEUKAEMIA the red blood cell count drops as cells that form

red cells in the marrow are replaced by leukemic cells. Anaemia

decreases the content of oxygen in the blood resulting in pallor,

weakness, fatigue, and shortness of breath with exertion.

Platelets

These tiny blood cells, released from the marrow, are essential for

clotting. They collect around a break in a blood vessel and form a

plug to stop bleeding.


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IN LEUKAEMIA platelet production goes down because platelet

forming cells in the marrow are replaced by leukaemic cells. Skin

bruising and excessive bleeding from cuts and wounds may occur.

White Blood Cells

Normal white cells ght infections by destroying bacteria and viruses

that can cause disease.

IN LEUKEMIAthe white cells are replaced by abnormal cells and/or

function poorly. Infection may occur if a decrease in infection-ghting

white blood cells is severe.

Marrow: This Is The Blood Cell-Forming Tissue

that produces red cells, several kinds of white cells and platelets.

IN LEUKAEMIAabnormal white cells invade the marrow and

disrupt normal production of blood cells.

Chronic Leukaemia Has Less Dramatic Effects.

In Lymphocytic Leukaemia the main effect may be an increase in

lymphocytes circulating in the blood and marrow. Lymph nodes and

the spleen may enlarge. Mild cases may go on for years with few or

no ill effects and not need treatment. If progressive, infections and

exaggerated bleeding may develop.

In Myelogenous Leukaemia anaemia is common but enough normallyfunctioning white cells and platelets prevent infection or abnormal

bleeding. Usually, chronic leukaemia can be controlled for several years,

but most cases eventually progress to phase that is similar to

acute leukaemia. In both acute and chronic leukaemia, an extremely

high number of abnormal white blood cells are produced, ooding the

bone marrow.

...........................and symptoms

A change in gene* structure causes the abnormalities and uncontrolled

multiplication of white cells in leukaemia. The cause of this change is

unknown in the overwhelming proportion of cases, but several factors

are known to increase the risk of leukaemia:


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Certain Diseases Present At Birth such as Down syndrome are

associated with a higher risk of leukaemia.

High-Dose Radiation (not diagnostic X-rays) may increase susceptibility

to leukaemia in some cases.

Viruses one or two specic viruses have been linked to certain cases

of lymphocytic leukaemia.

Benzene chronic, high exposure to benzene, usually in industrialsettings can cause acute myelogenous leukaemia.

Government regulations in the workplace are intended to

prevent this exposure.

Studies indicate leukaemia is not contagious.

* Genes are the blueprints that determine

cell structure and function. They are located

on the chromosomes, inside the nucleus ofevery cell.

Symptoms or signs are similar to those

of other ailments, but eventually become

more persistent and severe:

Pale complexion

Weakness

Chronic fatigue Shortness of breath

Anaemia

Unexplained fever

Bruising easily

Exaggerated bleeding after injures

Recurrent infection

Pain in joints and bones

Increased size of lymph nodes,liver or spleen


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See your physician if any of these signs and symptoms persist or recur.

Treatment foombinations

In recent years, major advances in treatment have been made.

Treatment may include:

Chemotherapy

This involves the use of powerful drugs in various combinations to kill

abnormal cells and/or slow their growth, giving normal cells a chance.

In some cases, the drugs are given intravenously over a period of days.

Blood or Marrow Transplant

Following high dose therapy for leukaemia, healthy blood or marrow

matched from a donor is injected into the patients bloodstream. The

blood or marrow enters the bones and starts producing normal blood

cells. In some cases, the patients own blood or marrow may be used.

Radiation

In certain types of leukaemia, such as acute lymphocytic leukaemia,

radiation may be used in combination with chemotherapy.

Different Combinations of Therapy Exist for:

acute lymphocytic leukaemia

acute myelogenous leukaemia chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

chronic myelogenous leukaemia

Because leukaemia is an uncommon disease, care

should be provided:

in specially equipped medical facilities

by a team of specially trained physicians, nurses, and paramedicsLeukemia patients now have a longer life expectancy than ever.


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everything you need to know about leukaemia

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