Contents
What is blood cancer?
Blood cancer is a malignant disease that affects and destroys the hematopoietic system. Its distinctive characteristic should be considered the fact that uncontrolled division occurs, as well as the accumulation of leukocytes belonging to the immature form.
This reproduction can occur not only in the bone marrow, but also in the blood passing through the periphery, as well as in the internal organs. As a result, the tumor initially grows in the bone marrow, and then replaces the “healthy” processes of blood formation.
In the course of the further development of the disease, a patient with blood cancer develops many diseases that are associated with:
Increased degree of bleeding;
General weakening of the immune system;
Accession of complications of an infectious type.
An alternative and more scientific name for blood cancer is leukemia, also known as leukemia.
Classification of blood cancer
The usual division of the disease into categories implies the allocation of two main forms: acute and chronic blood cancer.
The acute course of blood cancer is determined by a significant number of immature cells that inhibit the standard blood production. A sign of leukemia, which is in a chronic form, is considered to be an overly active formation of two types of bodies: granulocytes or granular leukocytes. As noted above, it is they who ultimately replace the healthy cells that previously formed the blood.
Both acute and chronic forms of leukemia are two different hematological diseases. Unlike other diseases, an acute type of blood cancer can never turn out to be a chronic form of leukemia, and a chronic type of blood cancer can never be more severe.
How long do people live with blood cancer?
The prognosis for chronic leukemia is many times more positive than for acute forms. An extremely fast, even aggressive course of acute leukemia always provokes an equally rapid “extinction” of the patient.
Presented form of leukemia:
Practically not amenable to adequate treatment;
Often it is a catalyst for the formation of lymphoblastic leukemia (in about 80% of cases).
With this type of leukemia found at a late stage, months are counted. In case of timely intervention – from two to five years.
Chronic leukemias are determined by a slower course. However, this happens exactly up to a certain stage, at which the so-called “blast crisis” occurs. In this case, chronic leukemia in fact acquires all the features of an acute one.
A lethal outcome at this stage may well come from any consequences of the disease. Medical intervention, provided on time, makes it possible for many years and even decades to achieve a long-term remission.
The life span of a patient in case he is sick with blood cancer directly depends on the adequacy of treatment, the general picture and the stage of the disease. In the best case, a person can be cured and live to an advanced age. The younger the patient, the greater the chances of a 100% recovery.
Symptoms of blood cancer
Early stage acute leukemia
It is necessary to distinguish the symptoms of leukemia at an early stage from the signs of a later stage. At the initial stage, the patient is faced with:
Painful sensations in the abdominal cavity, especially in its upper region;
Soreness in the joints, which may be accompanied by “ache” in the bones;
Frequent bleeding, which is quite difficult to stop;
Forced formation of bruises or blood smudges;
A significant increase in the size of not only the liver, but also the lymph nodes;
Constant weakness, lethargy and apathy;
A condition with symptoms resembling a fever;
Frequent infectious diseases;
Frequent urge to urinate.
As a rule, this stage of blood cancer is diagnosed after the fact – during the transition to a further stage of the disease.
Advanced stage of acute blood cancer
The so-called “expanded stage” is accompanied by symptoms such as:
Nausea, which the patient perceives as sudden attacks of malaise, which from time to time are accompanied by significant dizziness and even vomiting;
Seasickness or motion sickness in any vehicle, even if there have never been such signs before;
Active sweating at night;
Rapid weight loss that occurs for no apparent reason.
Remission (in the patient’s blood, blast-type cells do not form for several years. We are talking about five to seven years);
Terminal (in this case, absolute oppression of the hematopoietic system is revealed, in which normal functioning is simply impossible).
After timely treatment, it can develop into the following stages:
Late stage acute blood cancer
At a late stage, if leukemia has not been detected, but the following symptoms appear, the patient needs the most urgent hospitalization:
Lips and nails turn blue;
Modifications of all levels of consciousness or an increased degree of anxiety. In this case, unconscious states may form for no reason, and there is also a lack of any reactions to external stimulation;
Pain in the heart, tightness or significant pressure in the chest, palpitation (forced heartbeat with an irregular rhythm);
Increased body temperature (more than 38 ° C);
An extremely high degree of frequency of contractions of the heart muscle (tachycardia);
Dyspnea – dysfunction of the respiratory system, which is characterized by difficulty or hoarseness;
Formation of convulsions;
Perceptible painful tremors in the abdominal cavity;
Uncontrolled or sufficiently strong blood flow.
Symptoms of the chronic form
The chronic form of blood cancer is characterized by individual symptoms:
The initial stage passes without obvious outward manifestations, in the case of research, it becomes possible to identify an increased number of granular-type leukocytes (otherwise it is called the monoclonal phase of blood cancer);
The polyclonal stage is characterized by the formation of tumors of a secondary nature, a significant change in the number of blast cells. Also, this stage is characterized by the manifestation of complications in the form of damage to the lymph nodes, a significant change in the size of the liver and spleen.
Causes of blood cancer
The exact factors leading to the development of leukemia have not yet been determined, but there are certain reasons that contribute to the formation of this disease:
Oncology in the history of the disease. Patients who have previously undergone chemotherapy or radiotherapy for any other type of cancer are significantly more likely to develop any form of leukemia;
Diseases of a genetic nature. Certain anomalies received by a person at birth, for example, Down’s syndrome, greatly increase the risk of developing leukemia;
Some diseases associated with the functioning of the blood and blood vessels, for example, myelodysplastic type syndrome, which also increases the risk of blood cancer;
The influence of a significant level of radiation can be a catalyst for the formation of a variety of oncological diseases;
Active influence of certain chemicals. Interaction with toxic materials, for example with benzene, is extremely dangerous. Because it causes an increased risk in the development of leukemia;
Leukemia in one of the relatives. Experts have proven that patients, blood relatives (close ones) have experienced blood cancer, and are most prone to leukemia. It is desirable for such patients to carry out medical examinations as often as possible, especially if they have any other risk factors for leukemia.
The use of certain strong drugs.
It is important to remember that oncology of the hematopoietic system is still one of the most mysterious ailments. There are quite frequent cases when blood cancer affects those who did not have any factors associated with such risks. Therefore, the best way to prevent is to undergo medical examinations every six months and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Stage 4 blood cancer
Separately, it is necessary to talk about the fourth stage of blood cancer. This stage is known as the last, that is, irreversible or reversible, but in a maximum of 5% of cases.
In this case, chaotic and forced growth, as well as the spread of malignant cells throughout the body, is observed. This process is accompanied by damage to neighboring healthy organs and tissues, the formation of distant metastatic tumor foci, which are located in all organs of the body.
Thus, the 4th stage of blood cancer should include such manifestations as:
Tumors of a malignant type that grow extremely fast;
The occurrence of bone cancer (in any form);
Rapidly growing lesions of formations with metastases of the lungs, bones, pancreas, brain area;
Formations of an “extremely fatal” type, for example, pancreatic cancer.
blood cancer in children
Leukemia also affects children. According to statistics, it is encountered between the ages of two and five, and mostly boys suffer from blood cancer (more than 60% of cases in childhood).
Causes and symptoms
Two factors should be considered the main reasons why blood cancer appears at such an early age:
Exposure to radiation, as well as exposure of the mother in any of the periods of pregnancy;
Dysfunction of a genetic nature (hereditary factor).
Symptoms in children are similar to those experienced by adults:
Pain in the bones and joints;
General feeling of weakness and drowsiness;
high fatigue;
Marked pallor;
Changes in the size of certain organs (liver and spleen), as well as lymph nodes.
Concomitant symptoms should be considered that the child does not want to play something, his appetite partially or completely disappears, as a result of which the body index decreases quite seriously.
The earliest sign of leukemia in children may be a sore throat. Often there are minor rashes on the skin and an increased degree of bleeding.
Forms of the disease
The disease presented by the type of oncology in children is determined by two forms – acute and chronic. The characteristic of the disease can be determined not by the duration of the clinical manifestations, but by the structure of the cells of the malignant tumor. The acute form of leukemia in childhood is determined by the presence of such cells in the cell substrate that have not yet matured. The chronic form is manifested in the presence of mature formations in the tumor cells.
It is not uncommon for children to be diagnosed with a form known as neuroleukemia. Its presence in the child’s body is most often indicated by neurological symptoms (disturbance in the activity of the meninges or brain tissues), sudden dizziness, migraines. The presented category of leukemia is formed exclusively in case of repeated cases of the formation of the disease.
With this scenario, experts use new combinations of drugs, because it is quite problematic to treat a child with a similar disease.
Treatment of blood cancer in a child
In order to cure a child’s blood cancer, the same methods are used as in the case of adults: chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation. The result after chemotherapy in childhood is often better than it can be in adults.
A similar effect is due to the fact that the child’s body returns to normal much better and faster after the implementation of the treatment course. In the case of bone marrow transplantation, donors are almost always close relatives of the child – brothers or sisters.
In the process of diagnosing blood cancer in a child, it is desirable to carry out a blood transfusion. This is due to the fact that in a sick child, the bone-type brain ceases to develop any types of cells. In the event that a transfusion is not carried out, the child can die from all sorts of simple infections and the most insignificant bleeding.
Blood cancer treatment
In order to cure acute leukemia, it is used:
a combination of one to three drugs that fight tumors (chemotherapy);
significant doses of glucocorticoid-type hormones.
In certain situations, a bone marrow transplant is possible. Supportive activities are essential. We are talking about the transfusion of certain blood components and the fastest possible cure of associated infectious diseases.
In the case of chronic leukemia, antimetabolites are currently used. This is a type of drug that suppresses the growth of malignant tumors. In some situations, the use of radiation therapy is allowed, as well as the introduction of specific substances, such as radioactive phosphorus.
The specialist chooses the method of treating leukemia solely depending on the form and stage at which it is currently located. Constant monitoring of the patient’s condition is carried out in accordance with blood tests and examinations in the bone marrow. It will be necessary to be treated for blood cancer throughout the entire period of a person’s life.
After the end of the treatment of acute leukemia, active and constant monitoring in the local clinic by an oncologist will be required. Such observation is extremely important, because it enables the oncologist to observe not only the likely recurrence of the disease, but also the side effects of treatment. It is equally important to inform the specialist about the symptoms as soon as possible.
Most often, relapse of acute leukemia occurs during treatment or some time after its completion. However, a recurrence of the disease may never occur. It is formed extremely rarely after the onset of remission, the length of which is more than five years.
In recent years, fungotherapy deserves more and more attention. Research on medicinal mushrooms around the world continues to this day, confirming more and more their therapeutic effect in oncology and other diseases.
Treatment of blood cancer is quite possible, but with this ailment, as with any other, it is very important to detect it as early as possible. In this case, recovery will be as fast as possible.
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