What is leukemia?
Leukemia is a malignancy of blood cells. This disease starts in the bone marrow, the soft tissue found inside bones. The bone marrow is where blood cells are formed. Human blood cells comprising:
White blood cells that fight infection duty
Red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body
Platelets play a role in blood clotting
When a person is exposed to leukemia, the bone marrow will form a lot of abnormal white blood cells, called leukemia cells. These cells do not work properly normal cells. These cells grow faster than normal cells, and do not stop growing when it's time to stop.
Over time, the number of leukemia cells will outnumber the normal blood cells. This will pose serious problems such as anemia, bleeding, and infection. These leukemia cells will also spread to the lymph nodes or other organs and cause swelling or pain.
There are several types of leukemia. In general, leukemia is grouped based on the speed of development and the type of white blood cell that is affected.
There are acute and chronic leukemia. Acute leukemia is a very fast growing and instantly make people feel sick. Chronic leukemia develops slowly and may not cause symptoms for years.
There lymphocytic or myelocytic leukemia. Leukemia lymphocytic (or lymphoblastic) attacks white blood cells called lymphocytes. Myelocytic leukemia attack other cell types that should develop into granulocytes, red blood cells, and platelets.
Four types of leukemia most, namely:
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)
There is also a rare type of leukemia, such as hairy cell leukemia . There is also a subtype of leukemia, such as acute promyelocytic leukemia (which is a subtype of AML).
What causes leukemia?
Until now, not yet known exactly what causes leukemia. Some things may increase the risk. Those things are called risk factors. However, even some patients with leukemia have none of these risk factors, whereas others may exist that have risk factors but do not suffer from leukemia.
Common risk factors for leukemia include: exposure to radiation, chemotherapy, and genetic disorders.
The risk factors for AML, such as exposure to chemicals such as benzene and formaldehyde.
The risk factors include a family history of CLL CLL, middle-aged or older, male, and white as well as HTLV-1 virus infection.
CML risk factors among which are a genetic mutation known as Philadelphia chromosome.
How does leukemia develop?
The bone marrow is where stem cells grow. These stem cells will be darh white cells, red blood cells, and platelets. In most cases of leukemia, there are too many abnormal white blood cells. The number of leukemia cells exceeds the number of normal blood cells in the bone marrow and spreads to the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen. If the number of leukemia cells had greatly exceeded the blood cells of normal, normal blood cells will not be able to work properly. This would cause symptoms easily bleeds or easy bruising, frequent infections, and fatigue.
The cure rate is different for each type of leukemia. 5-year survival rate is the percentage of people who are still able to survive for five years or more after diagnosis with this disease. This figure can not show the person's chances of recovery.
Estimated 5-year survival rate for all four types of leukemia
type of leukemia The number of people who survive for five years or more
ALL 39 of 100 patients
AML 5-65 of 100 patients
CLL 81 of 100 patients
CML 90 of 100 patients
The above figures are based on research reports at least 5 years ago, before the existence of newer therapeutic methods. So, the opportunity to recover this time is certainly better than before.
Leukemia can be eliminated. People often call it "cured". But doctors generally prefer to use the word "remission" rather than "cured" because the cancer could recur.
What are the symptoms of leukemia?
Symptoms that appear depend on the type of leukemia. Symptoms of acute leukemia depends on how severe the disease has developed, among which are:
A lump in the neck, armpits, or groin
Frequent nosebleeds, bleeding gums, bloody bowel movements, easy bruising, or menstrual very much
Old fever for no apparent reason
Night sweats
Pain in the bones
Decreased appetite or weight loss that much in a short time
Easily tired, pale
Abdominal pain, especially on the left
Chronic leukemia often does not cause symptoms until the disease is already severe. And when symptoms appear, these symptoms usually appear slowly so often felt.
When do we need to call the doctor?
If symptoms occur as described above, do not hesitate to immediately contact a doctor. Which can be consulted doctors about symptoms of leukemia are family physicians, internal medicine physicians, pediatricians, oncologists, or hematology.
Doctors may not directly cure, but would suggest for a routine check on a regular basis or it is called watchful waiting . It all depends on the type of leukemia that affects and conditions patients in general health.
If the doctor suspects a person is suffering from leukemia, the doctor will probably want to do additional examinations, such as blood, bone marrow, radiology examinations, and biopsies.
How the treatment of leukemia?
The goal of treatment of leukemia is to destroy the leukemia cells and allow normal cells to be fully formed in the bone marrow. Treatment is based on the type of leukemia that affects, stage, age, and overall health status of patients.
Therapy for ALL consists of three phases, namely:
Aiming to destroy the leukemia cells in the blood and bone marrow. These therapies include chemotherapy and corticosteroid drugs. This therapy is usually conducted for about 4 weeks.
Aiming to kill the remnants of leukemia cells that may not be found during the examination of blood and bone marrow. This therapy may include chemotherapy conducted over several months.
The aim is to prevent the growth of leukemia cells remaining. This therapy is done with low-dose chemotherapy for approximately 3 years.
If there are no signs of leukemia that appear within 5 years, a person usually has been declared in remission. However, if unsuccessful, will be repeated treatment of the early stages and may also be required additional therapy.
How to prevent leukemia?
Have not found the most effective way to prevent leukemia. However, some experts recommend to avoid risk factors, for example, avoid exposure to radiation and chemicals as well as quitting smoking.
