Leukemia is a blood cancer caused by a rise in the number of white blood cells in the body. The white blood cells crowd out the red blood cells and platelets that are needed for the body to be healthy. Having extra white blood cells disrupt the balance inside the body.
Symptoms of Leukemia
- Weakness or fatigue
- Fever or chills
- Pain in your bones or joints
- Bruising or bleeding easily
- Headaches
- Severe infections or those that keep coming back
- Vomiting
- Seizures
- Weight loss
- Night Sweats
- Shortness of breath
- Swollen lymph nodes, enlarged liver or spleen
- Recurrent nose bleeds
The exact cause of leukemia is not yet identified, but there are finding where it seems to develop from a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Environmental Factors
- Smoking – smoking cigarettes increases the risk of acute myelogenous leukemia
- Genetic Disorders – genetic abnormalities seem to play a role in the development of leukemia, certain genetic disorders such as down syndrome are associated with an increased risk of leukemia
- Family History of Leukemia – if there is a member of the family that was diagnosed with leukemia, the risk of disease may be increased
- Exposure to Certain Chemicals – exposure to certain chemicals, such as benzene; which is found in gasoline and is used by the chemical industry, is linked to an increased risk of some kinds of leukemia
- Previous Cancer Treatment – people who’ve had certain types of chemotherapy and radiation therapy for other cancers have an increased risk of developing certain types of leukemia
Leukemia is grouped by how fast it develops and gets worse, and by which type of blood cell is involved.
First Group of Leukemia
- Acute Leukemia – it happens when most of the abnormal blood cells don’t mature and carry out normal functions.
- Chronic Leukemia – it happens when there are some immature cells, but others are normal and can work the way they should.
Second Group of Leukemia
- Lymphocytic Leukemia – it occurs if cancerous changes affect the type of bone marrow that makes lymphocytes. A Lymphocyte is a white blood cell that plays a role in the immune system.
- Myelogenous Leukemia – happens when changes affect bone marrow cells that produce blood cells, rather than the blood cells themselves.
Primary treatment for Leukemia is chemotherapy. If treatment is started while it is in its early stage the success rate is higher and remission chance is higher.
Treatments
- Watchful waiting – doctors may not actively treat slower growing leukemias, such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia
- Chemotherapy – administering high dosage of medications that targets and kills cancer cells
- Targeted Therapy – a treatment that uses tyrosine kinase inhibitors that target cancer cells without affecting other cells, reducing negative side effects
- Stem Cell Transplantation – infusing new stem cells into the bone marrow to create new noncancerous blood cells
- Surgery – it often involves removing the spleen, this procedure depends on the type of leukemia the patient is diagnosed with
- Radiation Therapy – in certain types of leukemia the doctor may recommend radiation therapy to destroy bone marrow tissue before a transplant
What We Offer
We at Almurshidi Medical Tourism will find the best doctors and hospitals to help you in your journey to remission. We are partnered with a wide network of hospitals and clinics that provide top quality medical experience.
We provide free medical estimates, make appointments, and provide several medical opinions if needed at no cost.
Contact Us
For more information contact us at +66822004040 or via WhatsApp https://wa.me/66822004040
