A type of blood cancer that occurs due to an increased amount of white blood cells in the body is called leukemia. When an individual experiences this cancer type, extra white blood cells throw out red blood cells and platelets that the body needs to be healthy and function properly. It means they are not working correctly when a high white blood cell count appears.
Is There a Difference between Leukemia and Lymphoma?
These conditions are both types of blood cancer and they are very similar because both conditions impact white blood cells. The only difference is that lymphoma forms tumors in the lymphatic system because abnormal cells clump together. This system includes the tonsils, spleen, lymph vessels, and lymph nodes. The lymphatic system helps to get rid of infections. In people with leukemia, abnormal cells flow through blood throughout the body.
While both blood cancers negatively affect the body’s ability to fight against infections, the treatments are different because they impact different body parts.
Causes
However, the experts do not know the exact leukemia cause. Many people with this cancer type have an unusual chromosome but this does not provoke leukemia.
How Does Leukemia Occur?
In normal circumstances, blood contains 3 cell types. These include white blood cells (fight infection), red blood cells (carry oxygen to tissue and organs throughout the body), and platelets (help blood clot). Each day the bone marrow produces billions of new blood cells mostly, red blood cells. In people with leukemia, the body produces white blood cells more than red ones. As a result, the body’s ability to fight off infections decreases. Moreover, extra white blood cells cause organs to not function properly. If you experience this cancer type for long periods, you may not have enough red blood cells that carry oxygen, platelets that help the blood clot, and white blood cells that fight against invaders.
How is Leukemia Classified?
Experts classify this blood cancer depending on how fast it develops and which blood cell is affected. Check below based on how fast leukemia develops:
- Acute leukemia – This cancer type usually worsens very quickly and occurs when the abnormal blood cells do not mature. It means they cannot carry out normal functions.
- Chronic leukemia – It usually worsens slowly compared to the acute form and happens when only some blood cells do not mature while others function correctly.
This cancer type is also classified depending on what cell is involved. For example:
- Lymphocytic (also known as lymphoblastic) leukemia – In such cases, the cancer affects bone marrow cells that transform into lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell)
- Myelogenous (myeloid) leukemia – This leukemia form negatively affects the bone marrow cells that produce red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
Leukemia Types
- Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) – This leukemia type is considered one of the most common forms that occurs in childhood. Moreover, this form can spread to other body parts (including the central nervous system and lymph nodes).
- Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) – This is the second most common leukemia forms that occur in childhood. Furthermore, it is considered the most common leukemia type that occurs in adults.
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) – This is another common form of leukemia that occurs in adults and it can be stable for years. It means you will not need treatment.
- Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) – Commonly, people with this leukemia type do not know they have it until performing a routine blood test. Older people (over 65 years old) are more prone to develop CML.
Symptoms
Check below some symptoms that may appear in people with leukemia:
- Headaches
- Weight loss
- Night sweats
- Shortness of breath
- Fever
- Chills
- Pale skin
- Easy bleeding or bruising
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Tiredness
- Infections
- Swollen spleen, tonsils, or lymph nodes
What Are Early Leukemia Symptoms?
The first signs that a person experiences leukemia usually are different because it depends on its type. Moreover, some types of this blood cancer are asymptomatic in the beginning. Additionally, the early symptoms in adults are usually cancer cells in the blood. These cells prevent blood cells from working properly. Check below the early symptoms of leukemia:
- Bleeding and bruising – You may experience heavier menstrual periods, bleeding gums, nosebleeds, and unexplained bruises.
- Swollen lymph nodes – You may experience swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, thighs, groin area, and belly. Moreover, you may also experience swollen liver or lymphatic system organs (including tonsils or spleen).
- Poor overall feeling – These include fatigue (extreme tiredness), headaches, night sweats, weight loss, pain under the left ribs, joint or bone pain, and breathing problems.
- Not able to fight against infections – In normal cases, white blood cells are responsible for fighting off invaders. However, if a person experiences this blood cancer type, the immature cells turn into cancer cells instead of white blood cells. This leads to getting sick more easily, fevers, and other health problems.
Risk Factors
While healthcare professionals do not know how to prevent this blood cancer, some factors may elevate your risk of experiencing it. Examples include:
- Smoking – Smoking or secondhand smoke people are more likely to develop AML.
- Chemicals – In case you are working around toxic chemicals (such as Benzene and Formaldehyde) you are at increased risk of getting leukemia.
- Cancer Treatments – There are some people who after chemotherapy or radiation therapy used to treat other cancer types remain with leukemia.
- Genetic Disorders – These include Down syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, neurofibromatosis, or other genetic disease. Inform your doctor if you experience any of the previous conditions or other diseases that may increase your risk of leukemia.
- Radiation – Those who are exposed to a lot of radiation for long periods have an elevated risk of leukemia.
- Race – According to studies those who are of Asian descent have an increased risk of developing leukemia (AML). Additionally, black people have a reduced risk of developing leukemia compared to other races.
- Gender – Men and people assigned to male at birth (AMAB) are more likely to have leukemia than women and people assigned to female at birth (AFAB).
- Family history
- Age – This blood cancer type is more likely to occur in people older than 55 years old.
Diagnosis
To diagnose this cancer type, doctors usually test blood or bone marrow. Tests include:
- Physical examination – This is done to check for bleeding gums, bruises, fever, and swelling in the lymph nodes, spleen, or liver.
- Complete blood count (CBC) – This test helps to determine the amount of mature blood cells of all types. Mostly, people with leukemia have more white blood cells than others.
- Other blood tests – These include flow cytometry and peripheral blood smears used to verify for cancer cells and other leukemia symptoms.
- Bone marrow biopsy – This test involves the removal of a small sample of marrow and is tested under a microscope.
- Spinal tap – This test helps to determine if leukemia spread to other body parts (such as the nervous system). It is also known as lumbar puncture.
- Imaging tests – The following tests help to get images that show how leukemia affects you. For example X-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans.
Treatment
The treatment methods that doctors prescribe for patients are usually different among them. Commonly, treatment options are based on the leukemia type, severity, age, and other factors. Check below some treatment options:
- Chemotherapy – These include strong medications that help to destroy cancer cells but can give you some adverse reactions during treatment.
- Radiation therapy – This procedure involves X-ray radiation to kill cancer cells.
- Biologic therapy – This treatment option is also known as immunotherapy. Monoclonal antibody therapy and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy are two immunotherapies used in leukemia treatment. They help to boost the body’s defense (immune system).
- Targeted therapy – These medications help to destroy some proteins and genes that cancer cells need to grow. They can also prevent cancer cells from spreading and dividing.
- Stem cell transplant – This procedure helps to replace bone marrow’s leukemia cells with healthy ones. A stem cell transplant is considered successful if bone marrow begins to produce healthy blood cells without cancer cells.
- Surgery – This cancer type lives in the blood and does not produce any tumors. However, surgery may be required when cancer cells accumulate in the spleen. This procedure is known as splenectomy and it often helps to improve the quality of life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is life expectancy in people with leukemia?
Approximately 62% of people with this blood cancer type have a 5-year survival rate. The survival rate does not necessarily mean all people with leukemia will live 5 years, someone may live either less or more than average.
Can leukemia be cured?
In many cases, leukemia cannot be cured but with treatment, you can get rid of symptoms and improve your quality of life. The only ways to treat leukemia are stem cells or bone marrow transplants. Discuss with your healthcare professional for more details.
Which treatment is considered the most successful for leukemia?
The primary leukemia treatment is chemotherapy. In case you have additional questions, ask your healthcare provider.
