Blood Cancer or Leukimia

Understanding Leukimia or Blood Cancer

Blood Cancer or leukemia is a cancer that attacks the cells that form blood cells in the bone marrow. In normal conditions, the white blood cells will grow on a regular basis at the time the body needs to fight infection arises.

Yet another case with people with Leukimia. Bone marrow to produce white blood cells that is abnormal, it can not function properly, and excessive. Excessive amounts will result in a buildup of bone marrow cells of healthy blood will be reduced.

 Types of Leukimia or Blood Cancer

There are various types of Leukimia. Based on the speed of its development, this cancer can be classified into acute and chronic.

Acute Leukimia growing rapidly due to the increase in the number of abnormal white blood cells that rapidly and spread into the bloodstream. This type must be dealt with immediately.

Meanwhile, chronic Leukimia develops slowly and in the long term. Symptoms tend not immediate so that newly diagnosed after years. White blood cells that should have died will be alive and accumulate in the blood, bone marrow, and other organs involved.

Leukimia can also be categorized according to the type of white blood cell that is attacked. Leukimia that attacks the lymph cells known as leukemia limfotik and attacking cells called myeloid leukemia mielogen.

Based on the above two groupings, there are four types of Leukimia most often occurs. Here is an explanation for each type.

• Limfotik acute leukemia or acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
• ALL can inhibit lymphocyte function so that infected potentially serious infections. Leukimia is generally diidap by children, but adults may also be attacked.
• Mielogen acute leukemia or acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)
• This is a type of Leukimia that primarily affects adults. AML but also can diidap by children and adolescents. This cancer will form myeloid cells are not perfect and can clog blood vessels.
• Limfotik chronic leukemia or chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
• Type of Leukimia is only experienced by adults. CLL usually detected at an advanced stage because patients tend not feel the symptoms for a long time.
• Mielogen Chronic leukemia or chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)

This type of Leukimia generally affects adults. CML has two stages. In the first stage, abnormal cells will grow slowly. Then upon entering the second phase, the number of abnormal cells increases rapidly so that the patient's condition will decrease drastically.

In general, a Leukimia or leukemia occur as a result of the production of white blood cells is too fast so many cells that are still not completely formed and eventually the sufferer immune system does not function optimally.
Symptoms of Leukimia

Leukimia symptoms are very diverse. Each sufferer usually experience different indications, depending on the type of Leukimia pathway.

Indications of this cancer also tend to be difficult to recognize because tend to be similar to other conditions, such as the flu. Therefore, we need to be aware of the common symptoms are not getting better or subside, such as:

•     Limp or ongoing fatigue.
•     Fever.
•     Chills.
•     Headache.
•     Vomiting.
•     Excessive sweating, especially at night.
•     Pain in the bones or joints.
•     Weight loss.
•     Swelling of the lymph stains, liver, or spleen.
•     Appear severe infection or frequent.
•     Easy bleeding (eg, frequent nosebleeds) or bruises.
•     Red spots appear on the skin.

If you or your child experience the above symptoms, immediately contact and consult a doctor. Particularly for symptoms often recur or do not improve.

Causes and Risk Factors of Blood Cancer or Leukimia

The fundamental causes of Leukimia is not known with certainty. But there are a number of factors that could be expected to increase a person's risk for this cancer. Factors triggering Leukimias include: 

• Heredity. If you have family members who suffer from Leukimia, your risk for developing the same cancer will increase. 
• Genetic disorders, such as Down syndrome.
• Had undergone cancer treatment. Certain chemotherapy or radiotherapy could be expected to trigger a Leukimia.
• Effect of blood disorder that affects, for example myelodysplastic syndrome.
• Never experienced high levels of exposure to radiation or certain chemicals. For example, people who have been involved in accidents related to nuclear reactors or undergo chemical substances such as benzene exposure.
• Smoking. Cigarettes not only increases the risk of Leukimia (leukemia mielogen especially acute), but also a variety of other diseases. 

Diagnosis and Treatment of Leukimia or Blood Cancer

At the initial stage, the doctor will ask existing symptoms before checking your physical condition. If you suspect you are suffering from Leukimia, for example due to swelling of the lymph stains, liver, or spleen, your doctor may recommend a more detailed examination that includes blood tests and a bone marrow biopsy.

A blood test will show the level of abnormal white blood cells. While a bone marrow biopsy is used to confirm the presence of cancer cells in blood. The procedure is done by taking a sample of bone marrow is also used to determine the type of Leukimia.

After a positive Leukimia diagnosis, the doctor will discuss the appropriate treatment measures. The type of treatment that you will live depends on many factors, including your age and health conditions as well as the type and stage Leukimia that you are contracting. Here is a method of treatment is generally recommended to deal with Leukimia.

• Chemotherapy to kill cancer cells.
• Radiotherapy to destroy and inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
• Therapy focused on attacking vulnerable parts of cancer cells.
• Biological therapies to help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.
• Stem cell transplant or a stem cell to the replacement of the damaged bone marrow with healthy ones. The stem cells used can come from your own body or the body of another person as a donor. Chemotherapy or radiotherapy will usually be performed as a preparatory step before undergoing the transplant procedure.