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Early signs of leukemia

Early signs of leukemia

Introduction

Leukemia is a type of blood cancer. It starts at your bone-marrow; people with leukemia may see many blood cells being made. These abnormally large number of cells are relatively immature and young. Such spells are also termed as blasts. The precise reason for onset of leukemia is not fully known yet. But factors such as environmental conditions and genetic factors are believed as key triggers.

In general, factors causing leukemia include smoking of tobacco-based goods, overexposure to benzene, onset of Down’s syndrome, earlier use of chemotherapeutic drugs, being exposed to ionised radiations, etc. Over and above these, those with a family track-record of leukemia are at greater risks.

Leukemia is part of wider category of tumors which affects your blood and bone-marrow. Typical treatments include combination of radiation therapies, chemotherapy, targeted therapies along with transplantation of bone marrow. In some cases, palliative care is also offered for expeditious treatment.

A few forms of leukemia are managed through a wait-and-watch approach. Successful outcomes depend on age of patients, stage of leukemia and its severity. In US, 5-year-rate-of-survival has already crossed 67%. Among children, rate of survival has improved significantly, to more than 70%. In case of very young children, a 5-year-survival-rate means an unlikely relapse of a similar condition.

Early signs of leukemia

Most forms of leukemia may not show-up through any distinctive signs, at the early stages. But a few signs are more likely to show-up; these are Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), like bronchial asthma or other breathing conditions like bronchial pneumonia. This is also characterised by a few other signs like formation of sores in mouth, rashes on skin, migraines and an increase in body temperature.

You are also likely to witness bruises and profuse bleeding; you may see traces of blood in your urine and / or in stools. Anemia and symptoms associated with deficiency of iron are other distinctive early signs of leukemia . Those who turn anemic may experience an overall feeling of malaise, paleness of skin, being tired, etc. Inflammation of lymph-nodes is another typical early sign of leukemia: you may see nodes swelling in your groin and / or neck.

Reddened-spots on skin are another commonly observed early sign of blood conditions like leukemia. These reddened spots may not be painful or itchy. These spots can occur on any part of your body and can be of any size. A few other early symptoms include an inexplicable loss of body weight, a marked drop in your appetite, inflammation of spleen – this shows-up as a pain underneath your left ribcage.

As an early sign, a blood test may reveal a very large count of white cells. Such abnormal count of blood cells can cause eyesight-related conditions like retinal bleeding. Large number of white cells can also cause tinnitus i.e., ringing inside ears, mood-swifts or anxieties. In some rare cases, strokes have occurred.

Among many caregivers, occurrence of red-coloured spots remains a distinctive early sign of this autoimmune condition. Often, these spots may resemble a rash on your skin. These are not rashes. Instead, these spots indicate the presence of a bleeding condition below the epidermis i.e., the topmost surface of your skin. These red-coloured spots may occur mostly on your butts, stomach, hands, mouth and / or the inner side of your eyelid. These spots may – at times – look brown or purple. But, how to tell a rash from a red spot caused by leukemia? You can tell a rash apart from red spots by a mild pinch at the reddened spot. As you pinch, the spot is likely to stay purple, brown or red: on the other hand, rashes may turn pale.

Also, unlike rashes – spots caused by leukemia do not exude pain, and nor do they cause itchiness. In this light, you also need to know that spots of leukemia may also show-up due to infections, adverse effects of drugs used, or an internal injury like say, a bruise.

Leukemia remains as one of the common type of cancers among teens and children. As per reliable estimates, more than 25% of cancers seen among children tend to be leukemia. Within these blood condition, two sub-categories are more prevalent – 1. acute myeloid leukemia and 2. acute lymphocytic leukemia. These conditions may display a few early signs in both children and teens. These include breathing difficulties, painful joints and bones, turning dizzy, being lightheaded, fits, convulsions and seizures.

In some children, early signs of leukemia include swelling of the belly, profuse bleeding from nose, inflammation of cheeks, frequent spells of coughing and being tired for most part of the day.

Symptoms of leukemia

Symptoms of leukemia vary based on sub-categories of blood cancers. Most symptoms of leukemia resemble a lot with common illnesses. But unlike many common ailments, symptoms of leukemia tend to last for a longer span of time. Of the several symptoms, look out of chills and fever, sweating during night times, a significant lack of appetite, and fatigue.

Of the previously mentioned signs, chills and fever occur whenever your blood is bereft of healthier white cells; a healthy count of such cells is needed  to ward-off microbes and pathogens that cause infectious conditions. Nighttime sweats in another distinctive symptoms of leukemia; however, researchers are not able to identify the true cause being such profuse sweating in nights.

Lack of appetite is another sign; it makes you eat less, or not eat at all. This is mainly because of a sensation of fullness in your belly. A loss of appetite is often attributed to enlargement of spleen: such an enlargement presses your belly, yielding a feeling of fullness. Being excessively tired or fatigued is primarily due to an inadequate supply of oxygen. Such a deficit occurs due to the lack of needful number of red cells in your blood. 

At an advanced stage of leukemia, symptoms can be more discomforting and unnerving. At an advanced level of this blood condition, you tend to experience a host of distressful symptoms. These include an inability to take deeper breaths – instead, you may breathe in a very shallow manner through slower breaths and with longer pauses between two breaths, noisy spells of breathing, persistent blockages in your nose and nasal airways, episodes of dehydration – marked by drying of lips and other oral parts, turning restless, hallucinations, etc.

In some people, advanced-level symptoms of leukemia include discharging lesser quantity of urine, loss of control over bowel and bladder, being confused about place, time and people, lack of responsiveness and consciousness.

Leukemia is likely to trigger a few symptoms involving the skin. These skin-related symptoms are leukemia rashes, purplish or brownish spots, paling of skin and formation of lumps underneath your epidermis.

Further, the symptoms of each sub-category of leukemia are different from one another. For example, acute myeloid leukemia can make you lose body weight, lead to profuse bleeding as well as bruising and make you very weak / tired. On the other hand, chronic myeloid leukemia may not be accompanied by many distinctive signs. However, when symptoms do occur, you may witness a sudden loss of body weight, sweating during your bedtime, increase in body temperature and chronic pains on the lefthand side of your ribcage.

In case of acute lymphocytic leukemia, symptoms include formation of reddened spots underneath your skin, painful bones, a sudden drop in appetite level, formation of lumps in your groin and / or armpits, gasping for breath as well as wheezing. Symptoms of chronic lymphocytic leukemia also do not show-up at the earlier stages. Here, you need to remember that this form of leukemia is quite a widespread condition among adults living in Western nations. In the US, leukemia of this genre has a lion’s share of ~ 28 % of all cases of leukemia. Signs of this condition are frequent spells of infection like flu or fever, inflammation of lymph-nodes, fatigue, and loss of body weight.

So, when there is an absence of leukemia symptoms, must you consult a doctor? You are advised to seek medical assistance if any of the previously mentioned, early-stage symptoms of leukemia persist for more than 10 days’ time. Your treating physician will conduct a thorough physical examination, ask needful questions about your clinical history, and order for a panel of tests to diagnose your health problem. Tests usually ordered include those done on samples of your bone marrow, blood, and saliva.

Know more about early signs of leukemia, talk to your caregiver before the autoimmune disease progresses into an advanced stage.

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Discover The Early Stages Of Leukemia

Early stage leukemia rash pictures

Introduction

Leukemia is triggered when cancerous cells outnumber blood cells such as platelets, red cells and white cells. Of these, platelets enable clotting of blood; white cells assist safeguarding your body against infections as well as diseases; red cells of your blood supply oxygen to all parts of the body. Stages of Leukemia is widely classified into four unique, sub-categories namely, acute myeloid leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia and acute lymphocytic leukemia. Symptoms of these sub-categories differ from each other.  
 
Also, no two individuals with the same type of leukemia may have similar symptoms. Of the abovesaid four (4) sub-categories, chronic versions of leukemia are usually detected even before they show–up. Most characteristic symptoms are swelling of lymph–nodes, liver and spleen. On the other hand, typical signs of acute forms of leukemia may take several–weeks to show–up.

Leukemia early symptoms

A few of the earliest symptoms of leukemia are tiredness, fatigue, feeling weak, increase in body temperature, lethargy, etc. Most of these initial signs mirror the symptoms of infectious conditions like flu or common cold. A few other likely symptoms of leukemia – at an early stage – are formation of bruises, bleeding profusely even when wounds are small, frequent spells of infections, oral bleeding conditions – especially from gums and bleeding through your nose.  
 
You may also witness symptoms of anemia; these include respiratory conditions like breathing difficulties, migraines, drop on appetite levels, turning pale skinned, being lightheaded and / or dizzy. Those living with acute lymphocytic leukemia – especially, children and teens – may experience painful joints, bone–related pains or similar types of orthopedic problems as earliest set of signs. In most cases, such orthopedic problems are wrongly diagnosed as autoimmune conditions like arthritis.   
 
It is essential to consult a physician upon noticing these possible signs of leukemia – especially when they turn worse with the passage of time. In a majority of cases, test results may reveal the presence of other medical conditions, which do not signify leukemia. However, if it is a cancerous condition – like leukemia – your doctor may treat it with relative ease, as diagnosis has been done at an earlier stage.

Blood cancer rash pictures

Rashes formed by leukemia are some of the earliest symptoms of this disease. These rashes show–up when tinier arteries / veins burst–open, causing small–sized, red–colored spots. Rashes may also occur at an advanced stage of leukemia; they may also show–up while you are taking treatments for leukemia. Apart from rashes, signs such as blistering of skin, infectious conditions and bruises may also show–up.   
At the earliest stage of leukemia , rashes occur chiefly because your autoimmune condition disrupts platelet-production. Leukemia is also known to distort the shapes of platelets and interrupt how these blood cells function. Leukemia can rupture membranes of arteries and veins, thus leading to vascular damages. Once your body is bereft of platelets, blood may take time to clot. This can weaken your blood capillaries i.e., tinier arteries and veins, causing spots to form underneath your skin. Rashes caused by leukemia may show–up at any site of your body. However, the most common sites are your neck, trunk, face, feet, arms, etc.  
 
Along with rashes, bruises are also known to occur. In medical terms, such bruises are called ecchymosis; these can occur on your back and / or your face. It is quite likely you may not remember when / how a bruise has occurred. Most of these bruises may form soon after a bump shows–up on your skin. You may also find bruises taking much longer–time to heal or to disappear. It is a common thing to experience bleeding from these bruises.  
 
An uncommon skin problem – called leukemia cutis – may also appear. But it is only in less than 4% of individuals living with leukemia. Cutis resembles a lesion or a bump, and also as open wounds. This skin condition is a direct outcome of abnormal formation of white cells of your blood. 

Iron deficiency rash pictures

Iron deficiency can lead to several forms of anaemia. Regardless of the type, all forms of anaemia tend to lower the number of red cells in your blood. A few forms of anaemia can trigger rashes on skin. A specific type called aplastic anaemia remains a common trigger for rashes to form. It can occur both among elders as well as teens. As per the US-based National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), aplastic anaemia is widely present in the Asian sub-continent than in other places.

Deficiency of iron can cause a condition called pruritus. This condition leads to itchiness of skin; frequent scratching of skin can trigger bumps and redness. These often resemble a rash on your skin. Approaches taken to treat anaemia can also trigger rashes on skin. For example, ferrous sulphate is one of the iron supplements doctors prescribe for iron-deficiencies. This sulphate can trigger allergies in people – such as formation of hives / itchiness of skin and rashes. These rashes may show-up at any site of your body; often, rashes appear with an inflammation of your skin.

Early Stages Of Leukemia Bruises Pictures

In the US, as per latest estimates, more than 500,000 individuals are diagnosed with leukemia. This estimate is sourced from the US-based, nodal agency National Cancer Institute – NCI. Further, the NCI estimates more than 60,000 cases of new incidence in 2024. Common symptoms among individuals living with blood cancers – like leukemia – are rashes on legs. These may appear as smaller, reddened spots on your legs.

In clinical parlance, these are known as petechiae. Among people with lighter or fairer skin, petechiae appear as dark, red-colored spots. Those who have darker skin tones, petechiae are less conspicuous; rashes may appear as darker spots i.e., than skin surrounding such spots.

Rashes / petechiae are more common on legs, feet and on your upper limbs i.e., on your arms and hands. These rashes are essentially broken capillaries; capillaries are tiny blood vessels. These are either arteries or veins. When such capillaries break, those immediately underneath your skin show-up as spots and rashes. Usually, blood cells called platelets (cells shaped as discs) save your body by arresting the flow of blood. But if you have leukemia – your body is bereft of platelets. This makes your blood difficult to clot.

Leukemia rashes on legs can also lead to a few other skin conditions. These include formation of plaques i.e., patches with thickened skin underneath them, blisters as well as ulcers / open wounds, altered skin tone etc. In some cases, nodules may show up; these are lumps underneath your skin and they make your skin feel rubbery. In a few instances, papules may form on your skin. Papules are small-sized bumps. These bumps make your skin turn firm.

Skin tone is a first casualty among people living with leukemia. Your skin turns pale, mainly due to anemia. If your skin tone is dark, how to know the change in its tone? You can observe mucus membranes of your nose, mouth and eyes turning gray or blue. Leukemia rashes on legs may often occur along with few other signs; these include gasping or panting for breath, severe levels of tiredness, turning weak, fatigued, etc. Leukemia – apart from skin tone changes and rashes on legs – can also trigger allergies and infections.

The root-cause of infections is your body’s inability to make white blood cells. As number of white cells is essential for a robust immune system, you tend to get infected often. You may witness fungal as well as ringworm infections as an outcome of leukemia. Infections caused by fungi include candida, nail-based infections and ringworm infections.

Candida is a form of fungus which resides on your skin. This infection may occur in your throat, other oral parts as well as guts. Candida is known for causing rashes. Nail-based infections – as a name suggests – can affect your fingernails. In these cases, nails can either break or crack. In most cases, nails may also change their colors. In some remote instances, there are nails that have fallen off fingers. Ringworm infections are also fungi-triggered infections. These are also labelled as tinea.

Itchiness is a common symptom of rashes caused by ringworms. The affected patch of skin displays rashes in a circular form. These rashes can occur at any place of your body, including legs and feet. As your body becomes an easy target for infections, inform your physician of rashes, bruises or spots on skin as soon as such symptoms show-up.

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What is the first sign of leukemia

What is the first sign of leukemia?

Introduction

Of the many types of cancers, sign of leukemia is a condition wherein the cells of blood are affected. This condition is known to start from your marrow; if you are not familiar of marrows, it is the birthing suite of cells in your blood. Bone marrow is a location where immature cells of blood – which turn into red blood cells, white blood and platelets are born.

All three forms of blood cells have a specific task to do. Your red blood cells ensure all parts of your body are catered to with needful amount of oxygen. Your white blood cells are known to safeguard your system from invasions and threats. These threats may take the shape of an infection or an allergy. Lastly, cells known as platelets work to clot your blood; this helps when you are bleeding profusely. Without platelets, an episode of bleeding in unlikely to stop.

Onset of blood conditions like leukemia can make your system produce a very huge quantity of cells in your blood. This is treated as a serious medical condition. This also needs immediate clinical attention. Among the three different kinds of blood cells, your white blood cells are at a larger risk. New and large number of white cells can flock your system due to an unprecedented growth of such cells. Over a period – i.e., if left untreated – a blast of white cells will overcrowd your blood.

Once this overcrowding occurs, healthier white cells tend to lose properties to defend your body. This is one of the main reasons for people with cancers may get infected more often than others.

Signs of leukemia

Each type of cancer shows up in its own unique and characteristic manner. Leukemia is known to exhibit a few of its symptoms. Beware: two people living with leukemia may not have similar types of signs. There are also some conditions where the typical signs do not occur.

Typical Signs of Leukemia include fatigue and tiredness – these spells can occur almost for the entire day; in most people, taking rest may not lead to an improvement in your tiredness, infections such as runny nose, common cold, flu, etc., internal bleeding – this may occur very often, bruises, etc. If these signs show up frequently, it becomes important to consult with a qualified medical professional.

Added symptoms of leukemia are: spike in body temperatures, a sudden loss of weight, swelling of your lymph-nodes; these are more likely to occur in neck, groin as well as arm-pits. In some people, symptoms can include breathing difficulties; you may gasp or pant. In general, you may experience sickness in more ways than one.

It is also possible to experience a single symptom – as a precautionary measure, make time to meet with a certified clinical practitioner without much delay. It is important to note that most cases of leukemia are diagnosed through a causal blood test – like a full blood count.

Woman signs of leukemia in adults

Incidence of a cancerous condition like leukemia is likely to have an adverse impact on how your blood clots. This has a significant bearing on women – especially during their menstrual cycles. As leukemia tends to damage blood cells known as platelets, clotting of blood becomes an issue. As a result – women may experience heavy spells of bleeding. 

How do women know if excessive bleeding is due to leukemia? Women can look out for several related signs. Key among them is: you may see purple-colored or reddened spots on skin. This is often an outcome of bleeding internally i.e., below your epidermis. Women may also witness blood in their feces, also, their stools may turn dark; these are triggered by bleeding from the gastric tract. If you continue to see non-stop blood discharge – while having periods, talk to your physician at the quickest possible time.

In some females, symptoms like inability to move or coordinate body parts can show up. This is likely to be an outcome of bleeding internally at the cerebral system. Some women may also report discomforts like sweating profusely – especially during sleep time. There are instances where women have woken up in the middle of night fully drenched with sweat.

Women may also see their liver and / or spleen getting bigger. This can be detected through a few characteristic signs such as a sharp pain from your stomach; this is felt below the left-hand side of your rib cage. Women may also feel quite full even upon consuming a smaller quantity of food. Leukemia may also trigger pains in women’s bones; this is due to accumulation / build-up of cells at the bone marrow. In some women, these pains may deter walking; some may start limping due to these discomforts.

Women who are living with an acute form of leukemia are likely to have an unprecedented increase in white blood cells. Owing to this this, many women may feel malaise / sickness; your caregiving team may consider as a condition needing urgent care. Women may also report epileptic fits or seizures / convulsions doubling of vision, and problems with moving their limbs – both arms and feet

Signs of leukemia

What causes leukemia is not known in full. Studies conducted on leukemia show two possible agents: a- environmental factors and 2- genetic reasons. One widely held assumption is leukemia is triggered whenever blood cells undergo mutation at genetic or DNA levels. Every blood cell in your system is ordered by cell-level DNA on is functions and ‘duties’. The very same DNA is where instructions on growth and death of a cell are issued to each blood cell. Those living with leukemia are likely to see cells in blood multiplying at a faster rate and divide in an uncharacteristic manner.

When this unprecedented growth rate remains unchecked, your system makes a very huge number of cells in your blood. If this allowed to continue without any treatment, such an abnormal growth of blood cells will soon outgrow the number of healthy cells. This leads to a marked decrease in the quantum of normal blood cells. This drop is seen in all three types of blood cells.

You also need to know blood conditions like leukemia manifest in various kinds. Depending on which cells are afflicted, leukemia can be either lymphocytes-based or myeloid cells-based. Among the two distinctive types, myeloid-cells are way too young and immature – these may turn into any of the three blood cells viz., red blood cells, white blood cells as well as platelets. On the other hand, lymphocytes are white blood cells.

Leukemia can take either a chronic or an acute form. Chronic version grows in a gradual manner while the acute version is known for its faster growth rate. If chronic form is not treated in a timely mode, it becomes an irreversible / untreatable disease. Similarly, the acute type of leukemia can take graver proportions if not treated at an earlier stage.

Of the many types of blood-related cancerous conditions, leukemia, lymphoma as well as myeloma are some of the distinctive versions. These cancerous blood conditions may show up at any point of your life. These may form in adults and in children or teens. Symptoms of cancers also tend to vary between teens and adults.

In general, cancers like leukemia are treated through multiple ways; the chosen way is a factor of the kind of cancers you are afflicted by stage in which the condition is in, how old are you, etc. All these play a pivotal role in determining which approach works / fits well. Widely used modalities to treat leukemia – across both genders – are targeted therapies, immunotherapies, chemotherapy radiation therapy, transplantation of stem cells, etc.

When blood cancers like leukemia are not multiplying at a faster rate, your physician is unlikely to commence the treatment plan. Your caregiving team will observe your condition for needful amount of time before starting to treat them.

Diagnosis of leukemia is done with a panel of lab tests – especially, tests done on samples of blood as well as bone marrow samples. Treatment is dependent on the stage of leukemia and on your other ailments. If radiation therapy, targeted therapies, chemotherapy and the likes are the possible treatment options, you are advised to adhere to the sittings without fail.

Upon sensing any discomforts such as pains or tiredness, speak with your caregiving team as quickly as you possibly can. Also, to know more about what the first sign of leukemia is, consult with your oncologist

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What is leukemia disease?

What is leukemia disease?

Introduction

Cancerous conditions are of many categories. No two conditions are similar though; each is distinct in its own way – based on its stage, site of occurrence, ability to spread to other organs, etc. These are basically autoimmune problems. If left unchecked, tumors multiply at a safter rate, and can spread to nearby tissues. Anybody can get cancers, and at any age. The leukemia disease are quite common among both sexes. Oncology is the domain which cares for tumors. Radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgical oncology are some of the leading sub-domains under oncology.

Leukemia

Leukemia is a type of cancer that occurs in your blood cells. The starting point of such cancers is the marrow; this is where cells of your blood are made. Bone marrow is the origination point for the birth of blood cells. These immature cells then turn into red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets as they mature.

These blood cells are earmarked to perform a few functions. Red blood cells ensure oxygen is supplied to all your tissues as well as organs. On the other hand, it is your white cells which safeguard your system against threats such as infections. Lastly, platelets work to make your blood to clot; this helps in arresting loss of blood from cuts or injuries

Leukemia definition

Onset of leukemia causes your system to produce an enormous volume of blood-cells. This is considered as an anomalous situation. As you know, there are three (3) distinctive types of cells in your blood; out of these cells, it is your white-cells that are more likely to multiply at a faster rate. When this condition remains untreated, these abnormal cells may out-number normal white in your blood.

Leukemia types

Leukemia cells can be of various kinds. Depending on cells in your blood which stand afflicted, leukemia is either centered on lymphocytes and myeloid cells. In these two sub-divisions, lymphocytes are quite similar to white blood cells. Myeloid cells are relatively immature cells; upon development, they can turn into red blood cells, white blood cells or as platelets.

Based on the way leukemia spreads as well as multiples, cancers are labelled as chronic or as acute conditions. Among the two distinctive types – the chronic version of leukemia is very gradual in its growth. This may become an untreatable disease if you do not take timely treatments. But the acute version of leukemia can multiply at an accelerated pace. This can be very difficult to treat if timely diagnosis and treatment are not offered.

There are further classifications of leukemia; these are acute lymphocytic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and chronic myeloid leukemia.

Acute myeloid leukemia is one of the most common diseases in older people. There are also instances wherein this disease has been detected among children and younger adults. On the other hand, acute lymphocytic leukemia is one of the cancerous conditions which afflict children as well as teens. However, a few adults are also likely to have it. Conditions like chronic lymphocytic leukemia is common in adults – of both sexes. More specifically, adults aged between 29 to 45 years are vulnerable.

Leukemia treatments

Leukemia can be treated through multiple approaches. Widely used measures are radiation treatment, chemotherapy, targeted therapies as well as transplantation of stem cells.

Of these different approaches, chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to treat cancers like leukemia. It is referred as one of the systemic approaches available to treat leukemia; chiefly due to the ability of drugs into get to remotest corners of your body.

Medications of multiple genres are administered as part of treatment. Medications aim at either prolonging the number of life years or they aim at treating the cancerous condition. All meds used under chemotherapy have the clearance of US-based drug authorizing authority – FDA. This clearance is a basic prerequisite for drugs to turn eligible for cancer treatment.

Mediations used under chemotherapy for leukemia have a common property of getting absorbed with relative ease. This property lends these meds easy access to most parts of your body. Chemotherapy differs immensely from other forms of treatment modalities; others are mostly localised therapies. Here, the focus is on a specific organ or tissue that has turned cancerous.

Meds used under chemo-treatment are capable of working in stages. Efficacy of each drug varies from one stage to another. Hence, the same drug may not perform in a similar manner to two individuals. Which medication works well for you is a decision taken by your caregiver i.e., medical oncologist.

Your healthy cells may get damaged when you use chemo drugs. So, the key aspect is what is the best possible way to reduce damages of healthier cells; on the other hand, how to enhance the damage done to cancerous cells. This has a direct bearing on the cost of each sitting of chemotherapy.

Often times, treatments may involve multiple approaches – i.e., more than two modalities for treating leukemia. For example, there are instances wherein treatment plans of leukemia are commenced with sittings of chemotherapy, and then involves radiation therapy. There could be instances where chemo sittings are followed by surgical interventions. As a next step, treatment may lead to radiation treatment – where beams of high-energy rays are channeled to the affected site / organ.

In general, the next activities – i.e., post sittings of chemotherapy – are direct outcomes of severity of the cancerous condition and the stage it is in.

You must also stay aware of likely undesired side effects of using chemotherapy for treating conditions like leukemia. The most common side effects are a marked decrease in immunity system, added risks of internal bleeding as well as development of bruises, painful nerves or muscles (also known as fibromyalgia), etc. Patients of leukemia may also witness loss of scalp hair and from other parts of their body.

Another persistent problem is the odds of infections tend to rise. You may easily get infectious conditions like flu or common cold. So, if you experience a runny nose, increase in body temperature or soreness of throat, tell the treating doctor of all such conditions.

Also, if one or more of these side effects are staying on for a longer span of time, you are advised to seek clinical support as soon as you possible can. The caregiving team which is treating leukemia is likely to provide a few alternatives or safer substitutes; in some cases, strength of doses is lowered to reduce the severity of adverse side effects.

When you are taking chemo drugs for treating leukemia, it is a safe practice to stay away from some food items. People living with leukemia need to talk to a certified dietitian to know what foods go well with your clinical condition – especially while you are undergoing chemo treatment for leukemia. For example: intake of alcohol is a no-go while using chemo meds. Those who have drinking habits must tell their doctor about such lifestyle practices. You are advised to either completely avoid taking alcohol or reduce the daily intake of such drinks.

On a related note, it is not helpful to eat foods that are rich in oils as well as greasy food items. Some chemo drugs – used for treating leukemia – can cause episodes of headaches. These can show up as sharp pains on your temples. If such spells occur very frequently, talk to your caregiver and find needful remedies for the same.

When cancerous cells causing leukemia are growing very fast, pains are a common outcome. It is highly recommended not to ignore such pains – at whichever site they occur. Not treating these pains can only aggravate them for the worse. Also, it can be harmful to stop using chemo drugs due to the onset of pains.

It is highly recommended to consult with your treating oncologist, and also – do not discontinue the use of chemo drugs without the consent of your caregiving team. It is equally essential to speak with your doctor about the next treatment methodology – i.e., post chemotherapy – for treating leukemia or other forms of blood cancers.

In sum, there are several investigative procedures through which leukemia can be diagnosed. Tests done for diagnosis include complete blood count; investigations conducted on bone marrow samples and genetic tests to identify possible mutations in genes.

Conditions like leukemia are best treated after fully knowing their type, the stage of disease, its severity, your age and presence of ailments – i.e., apart from cancer. Treatments done for leukemia include chemotherapy, radiation treatment, transplantation of stem cells and targeted therapies – to name a few. In order to know more about leukemia, talk to a qualified oncologist.

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What Are The Leukemia Symptoms?

What Are The Leukemia Symptoms?

Introduction

Cancers are of several types; each differs from the other due to many reasons. The key reasons include the site at which cancers develop, stage of the disease, how fast is the condition spreading, causes, etc. Cancers are essentially autoimmune conditions. These can occur at any age, and is common among both genders. The medical discipline that offers care to cancerous conditions is called Leukemia Symptoms. There are multiple sub-types of oncology, such as chemotherapy, radiation oncology, surgical oncology, etc. 

What is meant by leukemia?

Leukemia refers to a cancerous condition of cells in your blood. This conditions often begins at the marrow – this is the place where blood cells are born. Your marrow is where young blood cells – that eventually become white cells, red cells as well as platelets take shape. Each blood cell has a function to do; for instance – red cells supply oxygen to organs and tissues; white cells protect your body from risks of infections while platelets enable clotting of blood and arrest bleeding.

Incidence of leukemia leads to your body making a larger number of blood cells; this is an abnormal condition. Of all the three types of cells, white cells tend to be more vulnerable to leukemia. If left unchecked, abnormal growth of cells may overcrowd your circulation system. In this process, your normal cells may slowly lose their ability to function properly.

Leukemia is of different types. Based on the blood cells the condition affects, leukemia can affect myeloid cells and lymphocytes. Of these myeloid cells are younger cells which eventually become white cells, red cells and platelets. Lymphocytes are a kind of white cells in blood.

Depending on how they leukemia grows and spreads, this condition can either be acute or chronic. Of these, chronic leukemia grows very slowly; it turns into an irreparable condition if left untreated. Acute form of leukemia is capable of growing very fast. This too turns worse when left without treatment.

Notwithstanding the above, key types of this blood condition are – acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Of these, acute myeloid leukemia is quite common among elderly people; however, it can also affect teens as well as children. Acute lymphocytic leukemia is a condition that affects younger adults and children; there are instances wherein grown-ups / adults have also witnessed it.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is the most commonly-occurring condition among grown-ups. People in their 30s and 40s are more likely to get it. Leukemia is diagnosed by the use of different investigative procedures. Tools used for proper diagnosis are: a thorough physical examination, proper understanding of your clinical history, ordering a panel of lab-tests like Full Blood Count (FBC), tests done on samples of your bone marrow, tests to assess changes in your chromosomes and in genes, etc.

Apart from the above, your oncologist may order a few more tests to check if cancerous conditions have spread to other tissues or organs. These additional tests are imaging-based examination, and puncture of lumbar to take a sample of your cerebrospinal fluid.

Leukemia is treated based on its type, how severe is your cancer, age your wellbeing and presence of other diseases – if any. Commonly offered treatments are radiation therapies, chemotherapy, chemotherapy along with transplantation of stem cells, targeted therapies, and chemotherapy wherein medications are used to fight specific cells and thus not harm your healthy cells.

Symptoms of leukemia

Leukemia shows up through multiple symptoms and signs. No two types of leukemia show the same kind of symptoms. Also, symptoms do not show up at all instances. At times, there may be only one sign; if it is causing you discomforts, it is a good practice to consult with your physician.

Common signs of leukemia are: being tired for most part of the day and you do not see improvements even after taking rests; frequent spells of bleeding / bruising and bleeding spells take longer time to get arrested; getting infected more often – with each episode turning severe and longer.

Signs also include an increase in body temperature; an inexplicable loss of body weight; inflammation of lymph nodes – especially in your armpits and neck region; respiratory problems like panting or grasping for breath, and being under a spell of malaise for long.

Other possible signs of leukemia include: a slowdown in your metabolic rate, a marked decrease in your appetite levels, a splitting headache or getting migraines more often. Leukemia is also capable of causing anaemia wherein your count of red cells sees a drastic drop. You can detect incidents of anaemia if you are experiencing persistent spells of fatigue, turning dizzy, pain in your chest region and paleness of skin.

Onset of leukemia may also affect blood cells that enable clotting. These cells are called platelets. Dysfunction of platelets may show-up as formation of purple or red-colored spots on your skin – triggered by internal bleeding underneath it, traces of blood in stools, darkened or tarried stools – caused by internal bleeding in the gut, increased discharge of blood during menstrual periods among women, difficulties to move your body – due to internal bleeding in your brain.   

Some people have reported profuse sweating during night hours or sweats during bedtime that drench them. Leukemia  may also cause your liver or spleen to get enlarged. You can sense such a swelling through pains in your tummy or underneath your ribcage – especially, on ribs of your left side. You may also feel very full after eating very small amounts of foods.

Leukemia is also capable of causing pain in your bones. This is observed when cancerous cells accumulate in your marrow. These painful conditions may make you limp or avoid walking altogether.

Symptoms of an acute version of leukemia involve a very high-count of white cells in your blood. This can make your sick, and is often treated as an emergency condition. Your sickness can manifest as neurological problems like convulsions, blurring of eyesight, being in a confused frame of mind, loss of coordination and lapses in motor skills. Some have developed respiratory conditions such as wheezing, being choked, other such breathing difficulties, etc.

Causes of leukemia

The actual causes behind the onset of leukemia are largely unknown. Research done on this blood condition indicates environmental as well as genetic triggers as the two likely causes. It is widely believed that leukemia is  caused when your cells in the blood are mutated at the DNA or genetic level. Each cell is instructed by its DNA as to how it needs to act. It is your DNA which informs at what growth rate your cells need to grow, and at what time they need to die. In case of leukemia, your cells in the blood continue to multiply and also divide in an abnormal fashion.

When such unchecked growth occurs, your body produces very large amount of blood cells. Over a period of time, such abnormally-growing cells outnumber your normal cells in the bone marrow. This causes a significant reduction in healthier cells in your blood. Drop in healthy cells is observed across red cells, white cells as well as platelets

What causes blood cancer?

Leukemia, myeloma and lymphoma are the three most common forms of blood cancers. These cancers are triggered by changes occurring inside DNA of your blood cells. These can occur at any given point in time of your lifespan. A few forms of blood cancers may affect teens as well as children. The typicalsigns of blood cancers are quite different between grown-ups and children.

Blood cancers can be treated by various approaches depending on the type of your blood condition, the stage of your blood-condition and your age; these determine the treatment approach(es) taken. Commonly administered treatments for blood cancers are immunotherapies, targeted therapies, radiation therapy, chemotherapy either with or without transplantation of stem cells.

If the cancerous condition is growing very slowly, your doctor may not start treating you immediately. He / she may adopt a wait-and-observe strategy before commencing treatment. If you are diagnosed with cancers of blood, it is essential to know the prognosis as well.

Prognosis is a factor of outcomes of lab tests, your overall wellbeing, stage at which your cancer has been diagnosed at, etc. If your caregiving team decides to treat with chemotherapy, you are advised to adhere to all instructions of your caregiver – all through the treatment plan. During the course of treatment, if you get infected or are experiencing tiredness, extreme levels of fatigue or spells of weakness, consult with your treating oncologist without any further delay.

 

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Leukemia Blood Test

Leukemia Blood Test

Introduction

Leukemia refers to cancerous condition in your blood. This condition starts in your marrow, and causes a faster multiplication of your blood-cells. Such cells are not fully developed yet; they are very young and immature. People who get leukemia may turn more vulnerable to infections, feel tired and exhausted, experience pains in bones, increase in body temperature, etc.

The causes behind the onset of leukemia remain largely unknown. It is suspected that this autoimmune disorder occurs due to both environmental and genetic triggers. People who smoke, those with Down-syndrome, those who have had prior exposure to radiations of the ionising genre or earlier sittings of chemotherapy are at an added risk of getting leukemia.

There are different ways to diagnose the incidence of leukemia. Most commonly used diagnostic tools include biopsy of your bone marrow, tests on blood samples, etc. Treatment of leukemia involves a combination of multiple approaches. These include radiation treatment, chemotherapy, transplant of your bone marrow, targeted therapies, etc.

Blood test for leukemia

Onset of leukemia is often detected during a normal test done on blood samples, and such detection is mostly done prior to the start of characteristic symptoms. The typical tests done to confirm the presence of leukemia are a thorough physical examination, test on samples of blood, tests on your bone marrow, etc.

Of these, a careful physical examination is done to detect signs like paleness of skin, inflammation of lymph-nodes, enlarged size of spleen and liver. Your doctor may also ask a few queries about your appetite levels, food habits and activities you pursue each day. Another approach is to opt for a blood test for leukemia

Leukemia diagnosis blood test

Blood test for leukemia involves examining samples of blood. This microscopic evaluation can help find out abnormal counts of blood cells i.e., white cells, red cells as well as platelets. An abnormal count is indicative of a likely occurrence of leukemia. Beware of a few types of cancers which may show up without an abnormal count of blood-cells. This is chiefly because the increased count may not circulate inside your bloodstream; instead, they remain deep inside your marrow.

Apart from the blood test, your physician may order for a biopsy of a sample taken off your bone marrow. Here, samples of marrow – from the hipbone – is taken for the test. The removal of sample involves a thin, long needle, and the collected sample is then to the lab. A panel of tests are done on the sample (of bone marrow) to confirm the presence of leukemia cells

Leukemia blood test results

The lab-test done to count blood cells reveals a lot of details. The results can also show finer points about your general wellbeing. But – you may also need to remember that no to lab results fare at the same level. There is room for marginal differences in counts, from one lab to another.

Factors like gender, pregnancy as well as age also play a role in determining the count of your blood cells. For instance, women who are pregnant may have an increased count of white cells; one study showed an increase of as high as 35% during the time of pregnancy.

As per the Society of Leukemia and Lymphoma, if you are healthy, you are likely to have a count of 5,000 to 10,000 white cells per microliter of your bloodstream. There is a subtle difference between males and females. In case of males, normal range is defined as 5,000 to 10,000 white cells / mL. For females, this range is between 4,500 to 11,000 white cells / mL of blood.

Results of your blood test also reveals the white cell differentials; this helps to examine the counts in greater detail. The average / normal ranges are neutrophils (55% – 70%), lymphocytes (between 20% – 40%), monocytes (3 to 7%), eosinophils (1% to 4%), basophils (~ 0.5% to 0.9%) and younger neutrophils – up to 3%.

When the count of your blood cells are either below or above these normal ranges, it does not indicate leukemia. For instance, an abnormal count may be due to an immunity cells-based disease or owing to an infectious condition. But, people with acute version of lymphocytic leukemia may have a larger count of immature / younger white cells. These may not show up in your bloodstream though. Caveat: lymphocytic leukemia may trigger a sharp fall in count of platelets and red cells.

On the other hand, if you have a condition called a chronic spell of myelomonocytic leukemia, your test may reveal a larger count of monocytes along with an abnormally higher count of white cells

Leukemia cancer CBC blood test results

If you have leukemia, your white cells is of a higher count. This is due to the inclusion of leukemia cells in the count. The count of white cells and its differentials help give a break down of the 5 distinctive types of such cells.

Of these five types, neutrophils constitute the lion’s share of white cells. The number of neutrophils has a direct impact on how robust is your defense mechanism. In other words, a drop in the count of neutrophils can perhaps be one of the symptom of leukemia.

The next type of white cell is lymphocytes; this is very essential to your immune power and the responsiveness of immunity cells. An abnormal count of lymphocytes – either low or high – is indicative of likely onset of leukemia.

The third type of cells in this list is monocytes; these cells determine the swiftness of your immune cells’ responses to external risks / threats. Such cells play a pivotal role in identifying infections caused by virus(es).

Basophils and eosinophils are the other two types of white cells. Abnormal counts of such cells can be due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) like asthma, bronchitis or bronchial asthma; these may also vary due to onset of infectious conditions as well as allergies.

In essence, count of white cells and their differential values enable isolating the type of leukemia. This diagnosis is possible after assessing the kind of cells that are impacted as well as their counts as against other types of white cells.

Leukemia positive cancer blood test results

As per counts published by Society of Lymphoma and Leukemia, a healthy range of cells are of the following order: count of red cells fares between 4.8 million to 6 million per mL (for males). In case of females, the count fares between 4.3 million to 5.3 million. For younger people, red cell count is in between 4 – 5.5 million per mL.

Healthy range of white cells is 5,000 – 10,000 per mL in males; the same for females is between 4,500 – 11,000 per mL. In case of teens and children, this count is between 5,000 – 10,000. Another key parameter is hematocrit; the healthy range in this case is 43 percent – 51 percent (of full blood count) in males. In case of females, it is 38 percent – 46 percent of the total count. For children as well as teens, it is between 33 percent – 43 percent of the entire cell count of blood cells.

A healthy count of platelets is between 160,000 to 390,000 per mL of your blood. This count does not differ across gender or age groups. Leukemia positive cancer blood test results often show a very low or a very high count – as compared to other cells in your blood. For example, white cells differential is likely to reveal a strange slant towards white cells.

Leukemia positive cancer blood test results remain a reliable measure. These results determine the treatment potential and also influence the approach taken for treating your autoimmune condition. A condition called neutropenia indicates a fall in the count of neutrophils. Moreover, a condition called leukocytosis refers to a markedly higher count of white cells. This remains a widely accepted indicator of an onset of cancer in your marrow or the incidence of leukemia.

You need to remember that a higher white cell count is a direct indicator of an immune system-based disorder or of an infectious condition. Your treating doctor / caregiving team knows how to interpret the leukemia positive cancer blood test results. Your treatment plan is decided based on your age,, severity of the autoimmune problem, presence of other ailments – if any, pursuit of other treatment or dosage plans, etc. In this light, it is highly recommended to adhere to your oncologist’s instructions to treat your medical condition

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Chronic myeloid leukemia

Chronic myeloid leukemia

Introduction

Tissues of the marrow are called as myeloid. Such tissues are mainly cells of your blood. Chronic myeloid leukemia is a tumorous condition that affects the myeloid. When cells in these tissues experience rapid multiplication, they can disturb the normal cells in your bloodstream. These cancers – not in all cases – are known to spread over to brain, skin as well as mouth. As these conditions can spread in a very short period, leaving them untreated can cause serious problems.

Medical science has identified a large number of risk factors that trigger this. Of the several risks, frequent use of tobacco, environmental hazards like being exposed to benzene rings, becoming old, earlier treatment of chemotherapy and / or radiations may cause this form of cancer. In general, men are more vulnerable to these types of cancers than women

Chronic myeloid leukemia ICD 10

Marrow is the place – present in your bones – where cells of blood are produced. Its a very rare-kind of tumor that shows up in your marrow. It causes a remarkable-increase in white-cells of your blood. This condition is labelled a ‘chronic’ as it grows very-slowly when compared to other acute-versions of leukemia.

Prognosis of patients living with chronic myeloid leukemia has improved with clinical breakthroughs in its treatment. It is now possible to move to remission, and also to extend your lifespan for several years. As per ICD 10, the term ‘myeloid’ indicates the kind of cells that are impacted by this cancerous condition. It is also labelled as the ‘chronic granulocytic’ version of leukemia under ICD 10.

This form of cancer is more common among elderly-people, and is quite a rare-thing among younger adults, teens and children. However, you need to know that chronic myeloid leukemia can show up in people of all age-groups.

What is chronic myeloid leukemia?

This is a cancer of white cells in blood; it is affected by an uncontrolled-multiplication of the myeloid-genre of cells in marrow. This unregulated-growth causes a significant build-up of white cells. Recent innovations in targeted-therapy – especially, discovery of tyrosine-kinase inhibiting-meds – has resulted in higher survival-rates among patients. These inhibitors are considered a breakthrough, allowing patients to have healthy quality of living – as compared to earlier generations of chemo-meds.

In the developed world, i.e., western nations, share of chronic myeloid leukemia is > 22% of all forms of leukemia in adults. If you include pediatric patients, chronic version of myeloid leukemia accounts for 14% of all forms of leukemia.

This form of cancers is common among men than in women. Data reveal an incidence-ratio of nearly 1.4 males to 1 female i.e., ~1.4:1. In terms of age-group, average age of diagnosis hovers at 64-years. Being exposed to radiations of the ionising-genre is one significant health-risk.

For instance, people who survived Nagasaki and Hiroshima nuclear bombs saw a 45-fold increase in risks of getting chronic myeloid leukemia. Studies done among such people show its onset had peaked in 9 years’ time after being exposed to nuclear radiations.

Chronic myeloid leukemia is usually diagnosed through the count of blood cells. It is suspected when there is a marked increase in granulocytes – of all genres. These cells are essentially of myeloid-type, and are relatively matured. Your treating oncologist will order a biopsy of your marrow to confirm its incidence.

This chronic condition is sub-divided into 3 distinctive phases, based on clinical-traits and lab-based investigations. These 3 phases are 1- chronic phase, 2- accelerated phase and 3- blast phase. Of these, blast phase is labelled as a crisis, and is also considered as final stage of chronic myeloid leukemia.

At the blast phase, this chronic condition starts behaving as an acute condition. Medical science has evidences linked to occurrence of newer abnormalities in chromosomes as a prerequisite for this condition to turn severe. A few people have been diagnosed at an accelerated or blast phase, showing the advanced level of progression of this condition.

As high as 3/4th of people living with chronic myeloid leukemia are diagnosed at the chronic-stage of this autoimmune condition. Being the 1st stage, you are unlikely to witness symptoms; at best, you may witness milder signs like being tired, fullness of tummy, pains on the left-side of body, painful joints or hip, etc.

Timeline of 1st phase is subjective to how soon this condition is detected, and on the kind of prior therapies administered to you. If you decide to leave this untreated, the chronic stage worsens into an accelerated phase. Your caregiving team may order for genomic-profiling or clinical marking of tumors to assess risks of rapid progression.

Diagnosis of transition from chronic to the accelerated phase is also a subjective thing. World Health Organisation has issued a set of criteria to define accelerated phase of chronic myeloid leukemia. These include > 20% basophils in your peripheral bloodstream; a consistent increase in white cells of blood i.e., greater than 10X 10^9 / L and remains unresponsive to therapies. Must you have condition that ticks any of these aforesaid boxes it is then labelled as an accelerated stage.

Once your autoimmune condition transitions into an accelerated mode, it means a blast is quite imminent. This also means drugs will turn ineffective to treat this phase of your cancerous condition. At the blast phase, it is often a crisis and it soon turns into an acute condition. As per WHO, this crisis is characterised by > 19% blast in your marrow or blood

Chronic myeloid leukemia symptoms

Typical signs of chronic myeloid leukemia are very vague. These can be quite confusing as a few other conditions also show-up through same signs. Also, signs of this form of leukemia do not change with gender; both females and males tend to witness same symptoms.

Common symptoms of chronic myeloid leukemia are: inexplicable increase in weight, increase in body temperature, nighttime sweating, painful bones – triggered by spread of cancer cells from your marrow to surface of your bones, enlargement of your spleen – your can feel a mass underneath the lefthand side of your ribcage, etc.

Caveat: These are not signs typical of this alone; many other types of cancers and also, a few non-cancerous conditions show-up through such symptoms. Hence, it takes a discerning-eye of an oncologist to tell the signs apart

Chronic myeloid leukemia treatment

Treating chronic myeloid leukemia – with a curative intent – is through stem-cell transplantation or transplantation of marrow. Apart from these, oncologists administer tyrosine kinase inhibiting meds and myelosuppressive therapies. In the chronic stage, oncologists had administered alkylating meds, steroidal drugs and anti-metabolites like hydroxyurea. Advent of tyrosine inhibiting drugs in mid-2001 changed the way chronic stage of leukemia is treated. However, in some cases, drugs like antimetabolites – especially, hydroxyurea continue to be administered to patients of it.

Among the newer generation of meds, drugs like imatinib are known to successfully block the worsening of this form of cancers. Some people may develop resistance to imatinib. In order to overcome it, drugs such as nilotinib, bosutinib etc., are widely used. All such meds have the needful clearance of the food & drug administration – FDA. By 2022, use of bosutinib has gained traction in US along with nilotinib.

Prior to discovery of tyrosine kinase inhibiting meds, the average timeline of survival among cancer patients was ~ 4 years. But with the administration of tyrosine kinase inhibitors, rates of survival have increased in a significant manner. A clinical study done on cancer patients – taking imatinib – showed 85% of people survived after 4 years of such treatment. In a follow-up study done on people taking imatinib, the rates of survival increased to more than 95% after 7 years.

In sum, as no symptoms are visible during initial phases of chronic myeloid leukemia, diagnosis are accidently done off a normal lab-test. Diagnosis was also possible by observing pains felt on left side of your body. Enlargement of your spleen can exert an added pressure on to your tummy; this can cause a sudden loss of your body weight as an outcome of a decreased appetite level.

Due to an increased level of metabolism, you tend to experience (profuse) sweating and a mild increase in body temperature. Regardless of the above, chronic phase is best diagnosed by an elevated count of white cells in blood. It indeed remains the most-distinguishing symptom of this form of leukemia. For more details on treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia, talk to your oncologist.

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Acute myeloid leukemia treatment

Acute myeloid leukemia treatment

Introduction

Myeloid is a tissue of your bone marrow. These are essentially blood cells. Acute myeloid leukemia is a cancerous condition of myeloid genre of blood cells. When such cells witness faster growth, they interfere with other unaffected cells of your blood. In some rare cases, this type of cancer may spread to your skin, brain or oral parts. The spreading process occurs in a rapid fashion; hence, if you are not treating this, it may turn into a fatal condition in a few weeks’ time. 
 
Factors that are considered as risks include being a male, smoking of tobacco products, turning older, working in an environment that has risks of exposure to benzene, prior sessions of radiation therapy or chemotherapy sittings. This condition witnesses leukemia-cells slowly replacing healthier cells of your bone marrow. As a result, you may experience a sudden decrease in white cells and red cells of your blood. As a parallel development, the number of platelets may also come down.

Leukemia signs and symptoms

The typical signs and symptoms of acute myeloid leukemia are being fatigued or tired, respiratory conditions like gasping for breath or panting, internal bleeding or development of bruises. In most cases, you may turn vulnerable to infectious conditions; this is chiefly due to the drop in number of white cells in your blood. 
 
You can also identify a decrease in red cells by a few of its characteristic signs; these are palpitations, rapid heart rate coupled with sweating profusely, episodes of extreme fatigue, turning pale and increase in respiratory rate. Drop in count of platelets can cause traces of blood from your nasal passages, bruising more frequently and bleeding easily. 
 
Your spleen is likely to get enlarged owing to the incidence of acute myeloid leukemia. But often times, this is asymptomatic and also very mild. On the other hand, inflammation of lymph nodes is not a common occurrence. A few people living with acute myeloid leukemia may witness inflammation of their gums; this is mainly due to leukemia cells gaining entry inside tissues of your gums.  
 
Some rare symptoms involve the respiratory tract as well as the gastric system; but these are uncommon symptoms. Treatment modality stand influenced by another symptom; this is the impact acute myeloid leukemia causes to the meninges of your central nervous system (CNS). 
 
Risk factors of acute myeloid leukemia are sittings of chemotherapy – especially being exposed to alkylating agent of the antineoplastic sub-genre. A few other chemo drugs such as topoisomerase-II inhibiting meds as well as meds like fludarabine. 
 
People who have been administered with these drugs may get acute myeloid leukemia after a few years. In case of the former, risks may emerge within 3 years from the time of dosing; for the latter, acute myeloid leukemia can show up after a span of 5 years’ time. 
 
High-energy and high-focus radiations of the ionising kind – administered to treat a few other types of cancers – may enhance the risks of acute myeloid leukemia. Those who were exposed to ionised rays to treat breast cancers, prostate cancers, lung cancers, lymphoma of the non-Hodgkin type, etc. are at an added risk of getting acute myeloid leukemia. 
 
In general, those who have a high body mass index (BMI) – of more than 27 – are at risk of being affected by acute myeloid leukemia. The risk levels are the same as that of smoking tobacco-based products.  
 
Also, if you are working in the nuclear power sector or manufacturing of computer goods or electronic items, the risks are more pronounced. You are equally exposed to acute myeloid leukemia risks if you are employed in the animal slaughter trade or fishing as well as processing of meat products. 

Acute myeloid leukemia medical procedure

Different approaches exist for treating acute myeloid leukemia. Your oncologist chooses an approach based on your medical condition, age and onset of prior ailments, if any. The various approaches include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapies, chemo with stem-cell transplants, and a few other forms of drug-based therapies.  
 
Not stopping with these, newer forms of treatment modalities are under testing stage. Regardless of the approach taken to treat acute myeloid leukemia, you are likely to witness a few adverse effects. Hence, follow-up procedures are commonly embedded as part of treatment plans to manage acute myeloid leukemia. 
 
On the whole, Acute myeloid leukemia treatment  involves two distinctive stages: remission and post-remission. Of these two stages, the former is the first stage of treatment offered to this form of cancer. Here, the focus is to destroy cells of leukemia; treatment is aimed at bone marrow as well as blood. The primary objective is to put your cancerous condition into a stage of remission. 
 
Post-remission stage is the second stage of treating this form of leukemia. This is however started only after leukemia is on its remission mode. Here, the aim is to terminate cancerous cells that are still alive – i.e., after the above phase of treatment. Goal is to kill cells that were not very active during the early phase, but have starting growing. This stage of treatment is also labelled as remission continuation therapy. 
 
Patients who undertake the abovementioned treatment protocols to manage acute myeloid leukemia must be under closer watch. This is mainly due to a condition called myelo-suppression; this shows up through a sizable drop in red cells, white cells as well as platelets in your blood. Supportive treatment involves transfusions to replace platelets and red cells of blood. As a parallel support measure, administration of antifungals as well as antibiotics is started to fight off infectious conditions (triggered due to a fall in the number of white cells)

Radiation therapy for acute myeloid leukemia

This approach uses x-rays of very high energy onto the affected site. These rays either kill cancerous cells or arrest them from growing any further. In case of acute myeloid leukemia, this therapy is offered through the external mode. This is done by using a device external to your body; it transmits x-rays to the site where cancer cells grow rapidly.  
 
Another popular technique is irradiation of your entire body. Here, x-rays are sent all over your system. This is widely pursued prior to transplantation of stem cells – especially, when there is a relapse of leukemia. 
 
Chemo drugs with stem cell transplantation for treating acute myeloid leukemia 
Often, healthier / normal cells are killed as part of cancer care. Stem cell transplantation aims to replace the blood cells with immature / younger blood cells. Such blood-creating cells – of the younger type – are carefully removed from the marrow or blood. These are stored in very low / freezing temperatures.  
 
One you have completed procedures of irradiation of full body or chemo sittings, stem cells that are frozen are thawed. These cells are then transplanted into your system through a procedure called infusion. Once infused, these new cells will mature and help restore the loss of blood cells

Leukemia medication / use of chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia

Here, drugs are used to arrest the rapid growth of tumor-causing cells. These drugs either focus on stalling cancerous cells from multiplying or kill them. Approach to chemotherapy is decided by the type of acute myeloid leukemia you are affected by. Also, if the cells have spread to nerves of your nervous system determines the intensity of chemo treatment.

Meds used for treating acute myeloid leukemia are mitoxantrone, cytarabine, decitabine, etc. In most cases, these drugs are administered in a combinatorial form. If leukemia has spread to nerves, drugs are injected to the spinal column. This helps to breach the brain-blood barrier; this may prevent drugs from gaining access to your central nervous system.

Of the many drugs used under the banner of chemotherapy, methotrexate and cytarabine are widely used through the intrathecal route i.e., delivered via your spinal column

Acute myeloid leukemia survival rate

The diagnosis of conditions like acute myeloid leukemia can be quite frightening. This is because as low of ~ 30.8% of those who get this form of leukemia will survive for more than 5 years. However, rates of survival depend on many factors viz., your age, biological nature of the condition, etc. Good news for those less than 20 years of age: survival rate of acute myeloid leukemia among this age group is more than 65%.

In general, the younger a person is – the better are the chances of surviving acute myeloid leukemia. On the other hand, people aged above 60 years are known to have very low rates of survival. In fact, this is the age group that sees a high % of mortality than all other age groups

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Chemotherapy treatment

Chemotherapy treatment

Introduction

Autoimmune disorders such as cancers are generally triggered either through environmental or genetic / hereditary risks. One can get cancer at practically any organ. Commonly encountered conditions are at breasts, lungs, skin, oral parts, prostate, cervical tract, etc. You need to know that cancers are of two broad types namely, benign or malignant.  
 
Benign tumors do not grow to nearby tissues or sites. They are usually treated with a surgery; the intent here is to cut the cyst or tissue that has developed a benign tumor. On the other hand, malignant cancers are harmful in nature; these tend to impair the site where it develops as well as spread to several adjoining organs or sites. 
 
Medical studies are at an advanced levels to understand the likely triggers of tumors. Evidence of triggers are broadly restricted to hereditary and environmental causes. This field of medicine aims to isolate all possible reasons for the incidence of an autoimmune condition. Signs that accompany the formation of tumors are relatively well known; these are a remarkable decrease in appetites, sores that fail to heal or wounds that need a prolonged span of time to get cured, getting infected with relative ease, drop in white cells of your blood, being tired most of the time, fatigue as well as weariness. 
 
A sub-optimal immunity is one of the direct symptoms of likely onset of tumor(s). This is often characterised by blood conditions like drop in red cells and / or white cells. In some cases, a significant drop in count of platelets is observed. Such blood-related disorders are often accompanied by infectious conditions; you tend to get these conditions more frequently. 
 
There are many established and time-tested approaches to treat tumors. Surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation treatment are considered as common approaches. Of these, surgeries are done to cut a tumor off your system. Surgeries are usually done at the primary stages of onset of tumors. At advanced stages of cancers, surgical option is pursued along with say, radiation or other treatment modalities. In case of radiation therapy, highly energetic rays / radiations are used to burn away cancerous cells; this process ensures decimating such problematic cells.

Cancer treatment chemotherapy

This modality of cancer treatment is also a proven route for treating tumors. This approach is also referred to as a systemic approach. This is because of its ability to get deeper into your system and offer the needful treatment. It involves the use of potent, anti-cancer drugs to kill cancerous cells.  
 
Many forms of drugs are used under the branch of chemotherapy. Drugs used as part of this branch are known to either prolong life expectancy i.e., adding more years to your life or focus on curing tumors. In this light, having an approval from US-centered federal drug clearing body – the food and drug administration (FDA) – is essential for drugs to qualify for chemotherapy.  
 
Most meds that qualify as chemo drugs are known for their ability to get absorbed easily by your body. This process gives these drugs access to all tissues and organs of the system. This is the major reason for calling chemotherapy as a systemic treatment modality. This differs from local therapies – like say, surgery or radiation – because these can focus only on a specific site or organ.

Chemotherapy cancer treatment cost

Cancer treatment cost using chemotherapy can be expensive. But, if you have a comprehensive insurance cover that includes coverage of drugs as well as hospital-related charges, you can save on a substantial amount of dollars. As mentioned, chemotherapy uses anti-cancer drugs to damage tumors  / cancerous tissues. Cost of your cancer treatment depends on many factors including the stage of your tumor, site / organ that is affected, your age, presence of other autoimmune problems or ailments, if any, etc.  
 
Drugs taken for chemo treatment are known to work through cycles. Every med offered to you works depending on the abovementioned factors. So, the way a drug functions and treats you is different from the way it would work for another person living with cancer. Choice of meds used (and their costs) is best left to the caregiving team. The team of treating doctors know which meds work best for your autoimmune condition and how many cycles it may need off you to get better outcomes. 
 
Chemotherapy cancer treatment cost varies so much from one treatment plan to another. This is due to the limited potential within chemotherapy to isolate agents that cause cancers. In other words, drugs do not separate healthier or normal cells from cancerous ones.  
 
Hence, your normal cells tend to stand affected through the use of chemo meds. All through the sittings of chemotherapy, medical teams strike a trade-off between how to minimize damages inflicted on your normal cells and at the same time maximize the impairment of tumor cells. Cost of chemotherapy cancer treatment also varies based in the types of meds used for your treatment. 
 
Alkylating drugs 
Drugs of this category impair cell-level membranes. In this process, they destroy functioning of tumor cells; once they are deprived of cellular activities, growth stops irreversibly. Cost of using alkylating meds can change from one sitting to another; this is determined by strength of each dose and the duration of each treatment cycle. 
 
Beware of likely damages this genre of chemo drugs can cause to the bone marrow. Research is actively on to understand the other side effects of alkylating medications; loss of scalp hair and also off other organs is a common side effect. Apart from this, you may witness frequent spells of infections – triggered by a decrease in white cells of your blood, etc. Peptic ulcers, nausea and gastric pains are also other commonly experienced adverse effects. 
 
Agonists of metabolites 
Using meds of this genre to treat your tumor can influence costs in a sizable manner. Here, key compounds present in these drugs damage tumor–creating cells. Once cell-level destruction is over, this makes such cells to cease growing as well as spreading further. These meds come with an invisible cost of adverse effects; if you observe involuntary movements or jerks, infectious conditions like flu or fever, tell your doctor of such outcomes. 
 
Caveat: these meds may also cause some damage to your liver. So, if you experience slowdown in digestion, loss of appetite (due to slower metabolism), etc., inform your medical oncologists on an urgent basis. If your coverage plan can handle costs of these agonists of metabolites, doctors use them for treating tumors in breast, ovaries, large intestines, rectum, etc.

What is the next treatment after chemotherapy?

The next treatment after chemotherapy is determined by a host of factors namely, the extent of cure chemo meds offered, how your system responded to chemotherapy sittings and the overarching treatment plan your caregiving team has recommended. 
 
Often, treatment plans include a combination of two or three modalities of cancer care. For instance, there are cases wherein the plan starts with chemotherapy and moves to radiation treatment. Or, there are also cases wherein chemotherapy paves the way to a surgery and then to radiation therapy. These next steps – i.e., after chemotherapy – are an outcome of the stage of cancer as well.  
 
While addressing the next treatment after chemotherapy, you also need to know about the likely adverse effects of this chemotherapy treatment. Commonly encountered adverse outcomes include a drop in potency of your immune cells, increased risks of internal bruising, neuralgia or pain in your nerves, loss of hair on your scalp, etc. As a lateral outcome, you run the risk of getting infected. 
 
Should any of these problems turn acute or persist for long, reach out to your treating doctor quickly. Your doctor may offer safer alternatives or may change the dosage strength. You may also be asked to avoid a few types of foods; talk to a qualified dietitian about items one can consume while taking chemo meds. For instance, you are advised to stay away from alcohol consumption. On the same note, you may also be advised not to take an oily or greasy diet.  
 
A few chemo meds can result in spells of migraines. If the multiplication rate gets faster, pain becomes a natural side effect. Ignoring these pains may only worsen your condition further. Hence, it is harmful to discontinue taking chemo meds upon witnessing pains conditions.  
 
It is recommended to talk to your caregiving team, and never stop using chemo meds without consulting caregivers. Lastly, talk to your treating physician to know about what the next treatment after chemotherapy is.

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Cancer chemotherapy

Cancer chemotherapy

Introduction

Chemotherapy works by administering anti-cancer meds to damage cancerous cells or inflict damages onto such harmful / rapidly growing cells. Almost all of these drugs offered through chemotherapy are known to function in distinctive cycles or stages. This means – meds under chemotherapy work uniquely upon those having cancer. Caregivers understand these phases and what drugs work best for the treatment of cancerous conditions.

So, what is chemotherapy for cancer?

Meds used as part of chemotherapy do not isolate triggers that cause cancers; they cannot tell healthy or harmless cells from cancerous ones. Owing to this, several harmless cells also can get injured by chemo meds.  
 
Caregiving teams aim at lessening the injuries of healthier or harmless cells; the team also strives to increase damages caused to fast-spreading, cancerous tissues and cells. In general, you need not panic about damages or injuries inflicted to healthy cells or harmless ones. Your harmless cells – upon being damaged – get back to life and pursue their normal functions in due course of time. Thus, chemo meds rarely trigger damages to active and healthy cells.  
 
You need to know chemotherapy is a time-tested and a trusted route for the treatment of cancer. This route comprises the use of potent anti-cancer drugs. Many meds – more than 100 of them – do have the approval of the federal drug agency – Food & drug administration (FDA). All drugs used under chemotherapy aim to accomplish either of these 2 tasks – add more life to the person living with cancers or cure their autoimmune problem.

At what stage is chemotherapy used?

Of the available modes of treating cancers, chemotherapy is administered at almost all stages of this autoimmune condition.  
 
At the preliminary stages, chemo meds are offered for curing the growth of cancerous cells. But, if the cancerous condition has started to spread to nearby tissues or sites, chemotherapy is used for offering palliative care. 
 
At the stage–1, this modality is used on a trial post-surgery. But at stages 2, chemotherapy is either preceded or followed by a surgical procedure. Among those with 3A stage of cancer, cancers are mostly treated through a surgical approach. Here, chemo drugs are offered with radiation therapies and / or surgeries.  
 
If cancers are in 3A stages – these are not removed through surgical means; instead, chemo drugs are provided along immunotherapy or with radiation therapy. In 3B and 3C stages of cancers, chemo drugs are provided with extra sittings of radiation treatment. In a few remote instances, this combinatorial treatment is followed by radio-sensitised treatment modalities.  
 
For stage 4 of cancers, chemo meds are offered together with targeted therapy. If you witness a relapse of cancers, chemo drugs are provided with additional sittings of chemotherapy.

Is chemotherapy painful?

Foremost of all, administration of chemo meds is not a discomforting protocol. However, pains are part of the usual set of side effects, experienced during most sittings of chemotherapy. Each sitting involves delivery of drugs intravenously; these may consume not more than 4 minutes per sitting. A caregiver – often, a medical specialist administers meds through a catheter into your vein(s). In most cases, veins of the arm are chosen to deliver these meds. Oncologists may use a tube of a very thin radius – also called a catheter. Through this slim tube, drugs gain entry inside the system. 
 
Those who are taking chemotherapy may feel painful sensations; these pains show up right at the site where drugs are delivered into the body. Most painful sensations tend to go away once the medical oncologist removes the needle or catheter. Needles are taken off quickly after a sitting gets completed. In some instances, catheters or needles known as ‘ports’ are left to stay on your system. These may be left there for a sizable span of time. This helps reduce the need to insert the catheter multiple times; it also serves to deliver many forms of drugs during a single cycle of treatment. 
 
Apart from intravenous delivery of drugs, a few meds are also taken in their ‘pills’ form or as tablets. Such pills are taken orally. You may need to swallow them with 8 to 9 ounces of potable water. You are unlikely to feel a pain when you are ingesting these tablets. 

Chemotherapy before and after

Before the start of each chemo sitting, it is a good practice to know more of the meds administered. Often, the pack of meds used include those which destroy cancerous cells; the pack may also include meds that can alleviate painful feelings. It is equally important to know how long each session will consume; a few sittings can take some hours. However, there are some which may need less than 5 minutes’ time.  
 
The entire chemotherapy treatment plan may require 5 to 7 weeks of your time. It can be of great use to have a friend accompany you during these sittings.  
 
There are also a few drugs that are taken prior to start of chemotherapy sittings. Hence, taking a pal or chum with you can help handle the side effects of these drugs. More often, meds taken prior to start of chemotherapy sittings can kick in a feeling of tiredness or fatigue. Having a pal by your side enables you to pass time with relative ease; this is because sitting in the healthcare facility – all alone – can be quite tiring.  
 
Tell your friend to watch out for undesired effects such as giddiness, flushing, inflammation or bruising; your friend may seek assistance from the treating doctor or caregiver as soon as these adverse effects erupt.  
 
Prio to each chemotherapy sitting, it is essential to drink adequate amounts of water or such other liquids like juices. You however need to avoid caffeinated drinks like tea or coffee. It is safe to stay away from soda or other carbonated beverages.  
 
Staying hydrated is an important thing to do: this is chiefly due to meds given for cancers can dry you up. Taking enough amounts of fluids can help reduce incidence of headache, fatigue and dizziness. It is a safe thing to drink at least 9 ounces of fluids (like water) each hour after every sitting of chemotherapy. It is equally important to refrain from taking caffeinated drinks. Intake of water can help in keeping you hydrated.  
 
You may also need to anticipate likely adverse outcomes like abdominal pain, vomiting, spells of insomnia, pains, loss of scalp hair, significant reduction in cells of your blood, etc. Most of these can affect other organs of your body – for instance, the central nervous system i.e., CNS may get affected. So, ensure to tell your treating doctor of losing your imbalance, lack of bodily coordination, involuntary shaking of body, muscular pains, etc.  
 
Lastly, prior to chemotherapy sittings, the caregiving team will make you take a blood count test – known as complete count of blood cells. The outcomes of this test will let understand the count of blood cells i.e., red blood cells, white cells as well as platelets. This works as a basis to understand the impact of chemotherapy sittings on your blood. 

After chemotherapy

Experiencing pains is a common side effect of chemotherapy, and also of other forms of cancer treatments. You may witness pains in the form of numbness or as a burning sensation. In a few instances, people have experienced acute spells of pains. Most of these discomforts may show up in your hands and legs. 
 
In general, pains are categorised under neuropathy related discomforts. These pains may occur owing to injuries of nerves – caused by meds or due to rapid multiplication of cells. Most people may also see pains like severe / splitting headache, pain in your lower abdomen as well as painful joints or muscles. Pains can however be treated. There are a few types of painkilling meds used for this purpose. But all these meds need to be taken under the advice of a qualified medical professional. 
 
If you are experiencing unbearable levels of pains, your treating team may recommend a few other alternative routes to manage such discomforts. These can include approaches like deep spells of respiration, acupressure, physical therapy, hypnosis as well as bio feedback sessions. In order to have more details, it is a good practice to speak with your treating physician. 
 
It is a recommended to have a journal to record severity of your pains, experienced throughout the treatment process. Take needful support from the caregiving team each time painful sensations disrupt your daily walk of life.

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