blood cancer | Leukemia (Blood CANCER): CAUSES, symptoms, treatments

Leukemia (Blood CANCER): CAUSES, symptoms, treatments



Definition leukemia, also known as blood cancer or "enzootic acute hematopoietic organs", is a cancer characterized by an exaggerated production of precursors of white blood cells in the bone marrow and blood.

This pathology leads to the cessation of transformation of the precursors of white blood cells ("babies") to mature leukocytes (normal white blood cells).
There is a high number of immature white blood cells and an insufficient number of "normal" white blood cells. These anomalies contribute to weakening the immune system.

In general, leukemia refers to an anomaly in the blood formula: red and/or white blood cell levels are abnormal.

General what are the different types of leukemia?

Two types of leukemia exist: acute leukemia and chronic leukemia.
The first usually affects children and adolescents, while the latter is more often observed in older individuals.

There are two sub-categories in each of these types:

For acute leukemia: Acute myeloid leukemia, which affects myéloblastes (precursors of myélocytes), and acute lymphoid leukemia, which affects lymphoblasts (precursors of lymphocytes).
For chronic leukemia, in the same way: chronic myeloid leukemia and chronic lymphoid leukemia.


What are the causes of leukemia? What are the risk factors?

The causes of leukemia are still difficult to identify. We talk about risk factors more often.

The probable causes and risk factors for leukemia are:

Family history
Tobacco consumption
Radiation
Activation of Oncogene
Loss of some tumor suppressor genes
Down Syndrome
Fanconi's Syndrome
Exposure to benzene
Virus
Chemotherapy


What are the symptoms of leukemia?

The symptoms and signs of leukemia are:

Altered General condition
General Fatigue
Abdominal pain
Bone and joint pain
Decrease in the number of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets
Fever
Sweats
Septicaemia
Severe angina
Bleeding of the gums and mucous membranes
Bruises
Anemia
Pallor
Palpitations
Disseminated Intra-Vascular Coagulation
Discomfort
Volume of abnormal lymph nodes (Adénomégalie)
Leucémides
Splenomegaly
Hepatomegaly
Weight loss
Loss of appetite
Headache
Reaching the cranial nerves
Difficulty breathing, vigilance disorders, convulsions, vision disorders (Leucostase syndrome)


How to diagnose leukemia?

The diagnosis of leukemia may require:

Bone marrow puncture (myelogram)
Blood tests: Abnormally low number of red blood cells and platelets, high number of abnormal white blood cells, presence of young leukocytes
Blood smear


How to treat leukemia? What treatments are available?

The treatment of leukemia depends entirely on its type and can go through:

Chemotherapy
Radiotherapy
Transfusions
Marrow transplant
Interferon


What diseases look like leukemia? What is his differential diagnosis?

Leukemia should not be confused (differential diagnosis) with a leukemoid reaction (causing symptoms and similar signs).
This type of reaction may occur during:

An infection
Rickets
A Down syndrome
Bone marrow cancer with metastasis it is also important not to confuse this pathology with:

Myélémies
Mononucleosis Syndrome
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with myelo-blood flooding
Medullary invasion by metastatic cells of a solid cancer