What is leukemia, its causes, causes and treatment

What Is Leukemia, Types, Symptoms, Treatment, Has Cure?



Leukemia is a malignant cancer that begins in the bone marrow, where blood cells are produced. Leukocytes (white blood cells) are the affected cells, which causes them to reproduce wildly, generating symptoms and signs of the disease.

Leukemia is divided into two categories: myeloid and lymphoid. The first one is derived from the myeloid stem cell and may be the granulocyte, basophil, monocyte, eosinophil or erythrocyte. In the case of the lymphoid, the lymphocyte is the sick cell.
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There is also a classification according to the rate of division of these cells. When division is rapid, it is known as acute leukemia; already when the division is slow, is known as chronic leukemia. Chronic leukemia develops slowly and the cells involved are similar to the normal cell, allowing patients, even patients, to maintain some normal functions in the body. Acute leukemia, on the other hand, has rapid progression and affects young cells that have not yet fully formed (blasts), compromising their functions and the body's defense capacity.

INCA, the National Cancer Institute, has ensured that 10,070 people will be affected by 2016, 4,530 women and 5,540 men.
Index in this article you will find the following information:

    What is leukemia?
    Types and subtypes of leukemia
    Causes
    Risk factors
    What are the symptoms of leukemia?
    Does leukemia have a cure?
    Diagnosis
    Treatment for leukemia
    How to live with the problem
    Prevention

Types and subtypes of leukemia

There are 4 types of classification for leukemia, in addition to 4 subtypes:
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

This type of leukemia can occur in anyone, but those who suffer most are those who are over 65 years. The reason for the onset of this disease has not yet been discovered.

The main feature is the production of blasts that immature, white blood cells that are responsible for fighting infections. These cells are produced involuntarily and their function of fighting infections, viruses and bacteria becomes void.

When there is a large amount of blasts in the bone marrow, the formations of the other blood components are blocked (platelets and red blood cells). Because the characteristic of acute leukemia has a rapid development, it is important that the treatment be done at the beginning.
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Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)

Chronic myeloid leukemia is a type of non-hereditary cancer that occurs in the bone marrow and, especially, in patients with a mean age of 50 years. The reason for the illness to happen is not yet known, but it is known that the disease is acquired throughout life.

This type of leukemia differs from others because of a genetic abnormality that occurs in the white blood cells known as the Ph + chromosome. Humans have 22 pairs of chromosomes added to the two sex chromosomes, totaling 46 chromosomes, and when the disease arises, a translocation occurs on two chromosomes (fusion of one part of a chromosome into another). The pairs of chromosomes in which this occurs are 9 and 22, characterizing the disease.

It is believed that 7 out of 10 patients manage to get rid of the disease completely.
Acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL)

This type of cancer is the most common among children. The disease is not hereditary, but its cause is not yet known. It is known that 9 out of 10 children can heal acute lymphoid leukemia.

The disease occurs when the stem cells responsible for the origin of the blood components undergo changes. These blood components are responsible for fighting infections, preventing bleeding and also oxygenating the body.

The cells stop working and reproduce very quickly because the disease is acute. This type of leukemia affects the cells that are still being formed, compromising the blood cells. The course of the disease is rapid, so it is very important that the diagnosis be given quickly.

Although the disease is most often found in children, adults can also suffer from this type of leukemia. In these cases, half of the patients are able to recover from the problem.
Chronic Lymphoid Leukemia (CLL)

This type of leukemia usually affects people over 50 and there is no record of children with chronic lymphoid leukemia. The disease is not hereditary, but acquired during life.
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This is a different type of leukemia, since some cases do not require treatment. The problem arises when white blood cells develop uncontrollably and their functions are lost. In addition, the disease is characterized as chronic because of a change that causes the growth of mature B lymphocytes but the production of normal cells may not be affected. At the same time as producing troubled cells, the manufacturing process and maturity of "good" cells also grows.
Subtypes
Granular lymphocytic leukemia T or NK:

It affects T or NK (Natural Killer) lymphocytes. It is rare, not aggressive and painless.
Aggressive Leukemia NK Cells:

It is an NK lymphocyte lymphoma (rare), which can be induced by the Sptein-Barr virus. More common in adolescents and young adults, it causes a very rapid decline, requiring rapid onset of chemotherapy.
Adult T-cell leukemia:

It is caused by human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV), an HIV-like retrovirus that also affects CD4 + T lymphocytes, but immortalizes the cell to produce more HTLV.
Hairy cell leukemia:

A subtype of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, with lymphocytes that appear to have hairs when viewed under a microscope. About 80% of those affected are male adults, and no cases have been reported in children.
Causes

All the types of leukemia mentioned above occur due to a genetic alteration that is not hereditary but acquired during life. The cells undergo a genetic change causing a cell division to occur that deactivate the tumor suppressor genes. It also happens the unbridled multiplication of the same cell leading to the onset of cancer.
Risk factors

The exact cause of leukemia is still unknown, but it is known that there are some factors that facilitate the onset of cancer. They are:

    Some blood diseases, such as myelodysplasia and myeloproliferative neoplasias;
    Some genetic diseases such as fanconi anemia, neurofibromatosis, Down syndrome and others;
    Exposure to chemicals, benzene derivatives, which may be present in petrochemical industries and chemical factories;
    Prior treatment with radiotherapy or chemotherapy;
    Exposure to ionizing radiation, as observed in people who survived nuclear leak and atomic bomb.

It should be made clear that, although there is some risk factor, it is not certain that the patient will have the disease.
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What are the symptoms of leukemia?

Hemorrhages, infections and anemias are common symptoms of leukemia, due to the damage caused by the production of platelets, white blood cells and red blood cells, respectively.

The proliferation of the cells causes the bone marrow to be occupied, not allowing normal cells to reproduce, which can cause different symptoms:
Anemic syndrome

They may appear due to decreased production of erythrocytes by the bone marrow.

    Dizziness;
    Fainting spells;
    Tiredness;
    Somnolence;
    Little hunger;
    Weight loss;
    Alopecia;
    Pallor;
    Headache;
    Irritability and weakness;
    Palpitation.

  

Thrombocytopenic Syndrome

They can arise by the diminution of platelets, cells very important for the coagulation of the blood, because they avoid the bleeding.

    Epistaxis;
    Gingival bleeding;
    Bruises that may appear after minor trauma or appear without any trauma;
    Excessive menstruation;
    Petechiae inside the mouth;
    Blood in the stool.

Leukopenic syndrome

Symptoms may appear by the decrease of normal leukocytes, mainly neutrophils, that act in the defense of the organism against infections.

    Fever;
    Sore tongue;
    Frequent infections;
    Canker sores;
    Excessive sweating at night;
    Lean lymph glands.

In addition to these symptoms, bone pain, enlargement of the spleen, joint pain, organ problems and sternum pain may also arise.
Does leukemia have a cure?

Yes, the disease has a cure. Most cases of cure involve bone marrow transplantation, but it can also occur through chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Diagnosis

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Physicians who specialize in diagnosing leukemia are oncologists or hematologists.

There is no way to detect leukemia early, so being alert for symptoms and signs is the best way to discover the disease. If there are children with genetic diseases that are signaled in the risk factors, this care should be even more intense because the risks are greater. The same holds true for people who work in the chemical industry or who have already undergone chemotherapy and / or radiation treatment.

Some tests can be done for the diagnosis of the disease to be performed:
Hemogram and blood smear

This type of test is done with a blood sample, and if there are changes in the count of different cell types and appearance, the doctor may suspect leukemia. Although the blood test indicates, only a sample of the marrow cells can confirm the diagnosis of leukemia.
Biopsy and myelogram

This examination is done by aspirating a part of the bone marrow. After anesthesia, a thin needle is inserted into the bone and a portion of the bone marrow is aspirated. Soon afterwards the biopsy is done, taking small cylindrical samples of bone and marrow. These two tests are done at the same time, most of the time it is usually necessary to do this procedure the first one to make the diagnosis and the second to see the reaction of the disease after the treatment.
Blood test

Blood tests are ordered by doctors so they can check the functionality of the liver and kidneys and find out if those organs were affected during treatment. In addition, the examination is recommended to discover infections due to the fragility of the immune system.
Lumbar puncture

A needle is inserted into the spine after anesthesia, and a sample of the cerebrospinal fluid is removed to find out if leukemia cells are present.
Excisional lymph node biopsies

For performing this examination, a ganglion can be removed. In addition, excisional biopsy may be done under local anesthesia, if the ganglion is close to the skin, or else under general anesthesia if not.
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X ray

When performing the x-ray examination, the enlargement of the thymus or lymph nodes of the chest can be detected more easily.


Computed tomography

This type of examination is performed to produce a detailed picture of a part of the body. X-ray images are produced as the machine rotates around the patient. A contrast can be injected into the patient so that the body structures are defined more easily. To perform this examination, the patient must lie still on a table for about half an hour. The test also helps to find out if the liver and kidneys have been affected by leukemia.
Ultrasound

Ultrasound uses sound waves to produce an image of the internal organs. With the instrument used to perform the test, the echo (a sound reflection that reaches the listener shortly after the direct sound) is captured and converted by the computer into an image.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging

The MRI is done to check if the disease has reached the nervous system and usually takes up to one hour. The resonance uses radio waves and the ones that are analyzed are absorbed and then released into a pattern given by the type of tissue in the body.
Bone scintigraphy

A small amount of a radioactive compound is injected into the patient and this substance accumulates in areas of bones affected by metastases or infections.
Flow cytometry

This type of technique is used to analyze bone marrow, blood, and lymph node cells to determine the type of leukemia. The cells are treated with special antibodies and receive a laser beam. These antibodies bind only to substances present in some types of leukemic cells. If the sample has these cells, the antibodies bind to them and the laser causes the lights to emit, allowing them to be analyzed by the computer.

Cytometry is also used to evaluate the amount of DNA in leukemic cells.
Cytochemical examination

Sample cells are scattered on a slide and exposed to dyes that react only with some types of leukemic cells. Thus, this test is very useful for differentiating the types of leukemia.
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Cytogenic examination or karyotype

The study detects changes that occur in chromosomes (normal cells contain 46 chromosomes). In some types of leukemia, one chromosome appears attached to another, which is called translocation and can be seen under a microscope. The identification of these translocations allows the diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoid leukemia.
Immunocytochemical examination

This procedure involves the treatment of the cells obtained in the biopsy with special antibodies. But instead of using laser and computer analysis, the sample is made by changing the coloration of the cells, which allows you to discover the different forms of leukemia.
Molecular studies

Detection of chromosomal and molecular changes are done with polymerase chain or hybridization methods. In addition to diagnosing, the prognosis can be performed according to the anomaly found in the exam.
Treatment for leukemia

Just as leukemia is separated into 4 types, the form of treatment also often varies according to the cause of the disease and its variations. Generally, treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia does not need to be done immediately after diagnosis, unlike acute leukemia, which needs immediate treatment with chemotherapy and even bone marrow transplantation.
Chemotherapy

The main way to treat leukemia is with chemotherapy. The way it is done depends on specific factors of each patient and it will be the doctor who will evaluate the best way to do it. This type of treatment uses chemicals to fight leukemia cells. Depending on the case, only one medication is used, or a combination of several of them can be used for treatment.

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is most often used by patients suffering from chronic lymphoid leukemia, so that lymph node masses are decreased. Still, radiotherapy can be used to prepare the patient for bone marrow transplantation. Radiation therapy uses X-rays and other high-intensity bundles to damage leukemic cells and inhibit growth.
Biological therapy

This type of treatment is done with therapies that help the immune system attack and recognize leukemic cells.
Transplantation of stem cells

The procedure is based on replacing bone marrow affected by cancer with a healthy one. Before transplantation occurs, chemotherapy and radiation therapy sessions can be done so that diseased bone marrow is destroyed. The infusion of stem cells are indicated to reconstruct the marrow.
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The doctor should look at a number of factors until deciding how best to treat the disease, but usually the treatment is done to destroy the leukemia cells so that the bone marrow returns to normal cells. In some specific cases of the disease, bone marrow transplantation is indicated.
Phases of treatment

Treatment can be done in some phases. The first is to achieve complete remission, that is, the cure that can be obtained through multidrug therapy. This occurs only after months of treatment and when tests no longer show abnormalities present.

In the following stages, the treatment varies according to the type of leukemia, which can last less than a year in myeloid leukemias and more than two years in the lymphoid. In them, three other phases are known:
Consolidation

Intensive treatment with substances not previously used.
Reinduction

Repetition of drugs used in the induction phase of remission.
Maintenance

More mild and continuous treatment that can last several months.

In cases of polychemotherapy, it may be necessary to hospitalize the patient because of infections that may occur because of the decrease in white blood cells that occur during treatment.
Medications for leukemia

    Celestone;
    Decadron;
    Androcortil;
    Betatrinta;
    Dexamethasone;
    Betamethasone dipropionate;
    Prednisolone sodium phosphate;
    Prednisone;
    Duoflam;
    Diprospan;
    Predsim.

It is very important to make it clear that self-medication should never be done. If it is done, the symptoms may worsen and complications arise. Do not stop using this medication without medical advice.
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Attention!

NEVER self-medicate or stop using a medicine without first consulting a doctor. Only he can tell which medication, dosage and duration of treatment is most appropriate for your specific case. The information contained on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace a specialist's advice or to serve as a recommendation for any type of treatment. Always follow the directions on the package leaflet and, if symptoms persist, seek medical or pharmaceutical advice.
How to cope with the problem?

At the first moment, the diagnosis of leukemia can become a terror for the family and the patient, but with the passage of time people learn to deal with the problem.

indicated to study about the disease that has to be able to discuss with the doctor about the treatment, symptoms, diagnosis and also so that it can solve your doubts.
Relatives

Keeping family members and friends close is critical if the disease is to be seen more lightly. Close relationships make the support larger and emotional support at this time is critical.
Support Groups

Attending support groups can be comforting to the patient, sharing their doubts, anguish, and fears with people in the same situation. This can bring great relief to patients.
Improving symptoms

To avoid nausea, nausea and vomiting it is essential that the patient maintain a balanced diet and avoid dehydration. Feeding yourself several times a day in small portions may be a good option to avoid the problem.
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Problems like lack of sleep, tiredness and pain can be treated with adequate at bedtime and lift. Creating a routine is important for tiredness to be controlled and for sleep to be stabilized.

Nowadays, leukemia is not a death sentence, because it is possible to live with the problem. Thanks to the advancement of technology and science, healing can occur in all 4 types of leukemia.
Prevention

The only way to prevent the disease is to avoid the risk factors that increase the possibility of the disease arising. But, as already mentioned, risk factors do not guarantee the disease, only increase the chances of the disease to arise.