What is Leukemia?
Leukemia
is a cancer of blood cells which is often referred as blood cancer. It is the
cancer of the blood-forming tissues in the body which includes bone marrow and
the lymphatic system of the body. Leukemia is cancer in the white blood cells.
White blood cells in our body help us to fight infection. Our blood cells form
in our bone marrow. If any person is suffering from leukemia then the person’s
bone marrow produces abnormal white blood cells. These abnormal white cells
crowd out the healthy blood cells which make it hard for blood to do its work.
Development of leukemia can be slow or fast which varies from person to person.
Chronic leukemia grows slowly while the growth of acute leukemia is very fast.
In acute leukemia, the abnormal white cells grow rapidly.
Symptoms of Leukemia
· Excessive sweating in the night.
· Fatigue.
· Enlargement of the liver.
· Weakness.
· Unintentional weight loss.
· Tenderness and pain in the bones.
· Chills.
· Swollen lymph nodes.
· Enlargement of the spleen.
· Seizures.
· Shortness of breath.
· Red spots on the skin.
· Bleeding.
· Painless lymph nodes.
· Bruising.
· Fever.
· Frequent infections.
· Headaches.
· Loss of appetite.
· Abdominal discomfort.
· Excessive sweating in the night.
· Fatigue.
· Enlargement of the liver.
· Weakness.
· Unintentional weight loss.
· Tenderness and pain in the bones.
· Chills.
· Swollen lymph nodes.
· Enlargement of the spleen.
· Seizures.
· Shortness of breath.
· Red spots on the skin.
· Bleeding.
· Painless lymph nodes.
· Bruising.
· Fever.
· Frequent infections.
· Headaches.
· Loss of appetite.
· Abdominal discomfort.
Types of Leukemia
The
treatment for leukemia mainly depends on the type of leukemia the patient is
suffering from and their overall health. There are four main types of
leukemia:-
· Acute myeloid leukemia (AML):- Acute lymphocytic leukemia is also referred as acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This type of leukemia occurs when the abnormal white blood cells get accumulate in the bone marrow. Acute lymphocytic leukemia progresses rapidly by replacing healthy cells which produce functional lymphocytes with leukemia cells that can’t mature properly. Acute lymphocytic leukemia mostly occurs in people who are under the age of 15 or over the age of 45. To treat acute lymphocytic leukemia chemotherapy, a combination of chemotherapy with stem cell transplant or immunotherapy is recommended to the patients.
· Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML):- Chronic myeloid leukemia is one of the fast-growing forms of cancer of the blood and bone marrow. Chronic myeloid leukemia is the most common type of acute leukemia which occurs when the bone marrow begins to make blasts, cells that have not yet completely matured. These blasts normally develop into white blood cells. These cells do not develop and are unable to ward off infections. Treatment for Chronic myeloid leukemia includes chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and stem cell transplant.
· Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL):- Acute lymphocytic leukemia is slow-growing cancer which begins in lymphocytes in the bone marrow and extends into the blood. It can also spread to lymph nodes and organs such as the liver and spleen. Acute lymphocytic leukemia develops when too many abnormal lymphocytes grow, crowding out normal blood cells and making it difficult for the body to fight infection. Treatment for Acute lymphocytic leukemia includes radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and stem cell transplant.
· Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL):- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia has a slow growth slow growth. This type of leukemia begins in the lymphocytes in the bone marrow and extends into the blood. Leukemia can also spread to lymph nodes and organs such as the liver and spleen. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia occurs when too many abnormal lymphocytes grow, crowding out normal blood cells and making it difficult for the body to fight infection. The treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia includes chemotherapy, radiation therapy or stem cell transplant. Oral chemotherapy is a common treatment for chronic leukemia.
· Acute myeloid leukemia (AML):- Acute lymphocytic leukemia is also referred as acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This type of leukemia occurs when the abnormal white blood cells get accumulate in the bone marrow. Acute lymphocytic leukemia progresses rapidly by replacing healthy cells which produce functional lymphocytes with leukemia cells that can’t mature properly. Acute lymphocytic leukemia mostly occurs in people who are under the age of 15 or over the age of 45. To treat acute lymphocytic leukemia chemotherapy, a combination of chemotherapy with stem cell transplant or immunotherapy is recommended to the patients.
· Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML):- Chronic myeloid leukemia is one of the fast-growing forms of cancer of the blood and bone marrow. Chronic myeloid leukemia is the most common type of acute leukemia which occurs when the bone marrow begins to make blasts, cells that have not yet completely matured. These blasts normally develop into white blood cells. These cells do not develop and are unable to ward off infections. Treatment for Chronic myeloid leukemia includes chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and stem cell transplant.
· Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL):- Acute lymphocytic leukemia is slow-growing cancer which begins in lymphocytes in the bone marrow and extends into the blood. It can also spread to lymph nodes and organs such as the liver and spleen. Acute lymphocytic leukemia develops when too many abnormal lymphocytes grow, crowding out normal blood cells and making it difficult for the body to fight infection. Treatment for Acute lymphocytic leukemia includes radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and stem cell transplant.
· Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL):- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia has a slow growth slow growth. This type of leukemia begins in the lymphocytes in the bone marrow and extends into the blood. Leukemia can also spread to lymph nodes and organs such as the liver and spleen. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia occurs when too many abnormal lymphocytes grow, crowding out normal blood cells and making it difficult for the body to fight infection. The treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia includes chemotherapy, radiation therapy or stem cell transplant. Oral chemotherapy is a common treatment for chronic leukemia.
· Chemotherapy: - Chemotherapy kills the cancer cells rapidly. It can be taken in pill or tablet form. Chemotherapy is usually combined with a combination of other therapies.
· Radiation therapy: - Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to kill cancerous cells. This therapy is used when the leukemia is spread to the brain or it in case it is used to target the spleen or other areas where leukemia cells have accumulated.
· Stem cell transplant: - Stem cell transplant is a procedure which replaces the diseased bone marrow with healthy bone marrow. Before stem cell transplant the patient can receive high doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy to destroy the diseased bone marrow which is followed by then infusion of blood-forming stem cells that helps in rebuild the bone marrow.
Risk factors of Leukemia
· Gender.
· Age.
· Family history of leukemia.
· Smoking.
· Exposure to high levels of radiation.
· Genetic disorders such as Down syndrome.
· Chemical exposure to benzene.
· Blood disorders, such as myelodysplastic syndrome.
· Previous cancer treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation.
· Gender.
· Age.
· Family history of leukemia.
· Smoking.
· Exposure to high levels of radiation.
· Genetic disorders such as Down syndrome.
· Chemical exposure to benzene.
· Blood disorders, such as myelodysplastic syndrome.
· Previous cancer treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation.
Why choose Travcure?
Undergoing
treatment for leukemia can be very expensive in western countries. Treatment
for leukemia is available in India at the most economical costs. Travcure
medical tourism company in India has a large network of associated surgeons and
healthcare facilities in India. Consultants at Travcure
provide their patients with best deals at the most reasonable costs. Travcure
takes care of your accommodation, foods, conveyance, and visits to exotic
locations within the country on requests.
