What is leukemia?
Leukemia is cancer of the white blood cells. White blood cells help your body fight infections. Inside your bones is a substance called bone marrow. This is where the blood cells are made. When you have leukemia, the bone marrow makes abnormal white blood cells. The abnormal cells build up and crowd out healthy blood cells. This makes it hard for your blood to do what it is supposed to do.
There are 4 main types of leukemia:
- Acute lymphocytic leukemia
- Acute myeloid leukemia
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
- Chronic myeloid leukemia
Acute types develop and grow quickly. Chronic types grow slowly. Lymphocytic or myeloid refers to which kind of white blood cells are abnormal. Each type of leukemia has different symptoms and is treated differently.
Leukemia is most common in adults over age 60. But it also happens to children. It is among the most common forms of cancer in children under age 15.
What causes leukemia?
In many cases, the cause of leukemia is not known. There are some factors that can increase your risk of developing one or more of the types. These include:
- Previous cancer treatment. Certain types of chemotherapy and radiation used for other cancer treatments can increase your risk.
- Some genetic disorders can increase your risk, such as Down syndrome.
- Certain chemicals. Excess exposure to some chemicals can increase your risk. One example is benzene, which is found in gasoline.
- Cigarette smoking increases the risk of one type of leukemia.
- Family history. Having a family member with leukemia raises your risk.
Leukemia symptoms and treatment
Chronic leukemia symptoms
The symptoms of leukemia depend on which kind it is. Symptoms of chronic leukemia tend to come on slowly over time. They include:
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Frequent infections
Some people with chronic leukemia don’t have any symptoms. They don’t know they have it until they get a blood test incidentally.
Acute leukemia symptoms
Symptoms of acute leukemia include:
- Fatigue, lack of energy
- Shortness of breath
- Pale skin
- Low-grade fever
- Night sweats
- Unexplained bruises
- Achy bones or joints
- Tiny red spots under the skin
How is leukemia diagnosed?
Your doctor will start by asking you detailed questions about your symptoms. Next, they will perform a physical exam to check for signs of leukemia, such as pale skin or swollen lymph nodes. After the exam, your doctor will likely order blood tests. These tests can detect abnormal levels in your blood that may suggest leukemia.
In addition to blood tests, your doctor may also recommend a bone marrow test. In this procedure, they remove a small sample of bone marrow and examine it under a microscope to look for leukemia cells.
If your doctor suspects leukemia, they will probably order further tests. These additional tests not only help confirm the diagnosis, but also identify the specific type of leukemia and determine how far it has spread in your body.
Can leukemia be prevented or avoided?
Most of the time, there’s nothing you can do to stop leukemia from happening. Some people have risk factors but never get it. Other people get leukemia even though they don’t have any risk factors. This means doctors don’t always know why someone gets leukemia.
Treatment
There are several treatment options for leukemia. Your doctor may recommend more than one type of treatment. What is best for one person may not be the best treatment for you. Your doctor will make the decision based on several things, including:
- Your age
- Your general health
- The type of leukemia
- Where the cancer has spread
Common available treatments include:
Chemotherapy – Powerful medicines are used to kill cancer cells. They are given through an IV (directly into the vein) or in pill form. This is the primary treatment for leukemia. Chemotherapy can cause unpleasant side effects. These include weakness, exhaustion, and hair loss.
Radiation therapy – High-energy rays are used to kill cancer cells. You lie on a table while a large machine moves around you. It directs the radiation into your body. It is a painless procedure. Radiation can cause some side effects as well, including fatigue, skin problems, and a low blood count.
Targeted therapy – Special medicines block the growth and spread of specific cancer cells. They can be given in an IV or as a pill. Common side effects of targeted therapy include diarrhea and liver problems. Other side effects might include problems with blood clotting and wound healing, high blood pressure, fatigue, mouth sores, nail changes, the loss of hair color, and skin problems, such as rash or dry skin.
Stem cell transplant – This procedure removes your cancerous bone marrow and replaces it with healthy bone marrow. You may be able to use your own stem cells. You may need a donor. It is very similar to a bone marrow transplant. It normally follows chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Side effects can include mouth and throat pain, nausea and vomiting, and infection.
Living with leukemia
With proper treatment, leukemia can go into remission. However, how well you respond to treatment depends on several factors—including how early the cancer was diagnosed. On the other hand, if the cancer is left untreated or goes undetected, it can spread to other parts of the body. This could lead to serious health problems or even become life-threatening. That’s why it’s important to begin treatment as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, living with cancer during treatment can be physically and emotionally challenging. Different treatments can cause different side effects. To support your health during this time, take good care of yourself: eat a healthy diet, get plenty of sleep, and try to stay mildly active to maintain your energy.
In addition, living with leukemia can take a toll on your emotions. That’s why it’s important to seek support when you need it. Whether it’s family, friends, a counselor, or a support group, connecting with others can help you cope emotionally.
Even after the cancer is gone, it’s important to know that you’re at a higher risk of it returning. For this reason, you’ll need regular follow-up care and checkups for years after treatment to monitor your health and catch any changes early.
Questions to ask your doctor
- What type of leukemia do I have?
- Will I need more tests?
- What kind of treatment do I need?
- Can my leukemia be cured?
- How will my treatment affect my life?
- Can I work or go to school?
