Leukemia / Blood Cancer - Slideshow

What is Leukemia

Leukemia is cancer of blood-forming tissues in the body.

"Leukemia" is called means "white blood" due to an increased presence of leucocytes or WBC

The disease starts in the bone marrow and spreads to other body parts

Although leukemia affects both children and adults it affects the latter ten times more

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Leukemia - Types

Based on disease progression

Acute Leukemia - It is fast progressive and is more common in children. Characterized by immature WBCs in the bone marrow and peripheral blood

Chronic leukemia - Slow progressing type of leukemia, associated with old age. Accumulation of abnormal mature WBCs observed.

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Leukemia types

Based on WBC subtypes affected -

Myelogenous leukemia - the disease affects the myelocytes (eosinophils, basophils, neutrophils )

Lymphocytic leukemia - affects the T or the B lymphocytes

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Leukemia-Causes & Risk factors

A mutation in the DNA causes leukemia

Risk Factors include -

»Age

»Genetics

»Environmental Factors

»Lifestyle related variables such as Smoking

»Previous chemotherapy

Leukemia- Symptoms

Fatigue, malaise

Low exercise tolerance

Weight loss

Bone/joint pain

Infection/fever

Abnormal bleeding

Leukemia- Diagnosis

Blood Tests

Total count, Hematocrit assay

Hemoglobin level

Blood cell morphology tests /staining

Blood chemistry tests

Genetic studies including karyotype, FISH

Leukemia -Treatment

Acute leukemia is fast progressing and must be treated immediately

Childhood leukemia is managed differently from adult leukemia

Common treatment methods include-


Chemotherapy

Radiotherapy

Interferon therapy

Bone marrow transplant

Surgery

Leukemia- Prognosis

Prognosis largely depends on age and response to therapies

Childhood leukemia are mostly of the acute variety. They are easily treatable and can even be cured.

Chronic leukemia in adults has a good life expectancy

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