Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) – Do you have a lot of questions about blood cancer, also known as “leukemia”? The official website of the Gulf Cooperation Council Health Council has published everything you need to know about the causes of the disease, its symptoms, and methods of treatment.
blood cancer
It is a cancer of white blood cells that forms in the bone marrow and then spreads to the bloodstream and other organs of the body.
Leukemia has different types, classified according to the type of blood cells affected, and according to the speed of its development in the body, whether it is (acute or chronic).
There are many types of leukemia:
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common type of blood cancer in children, can also affect adults. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a patient may develop it at any age, but it is more common in the elderly. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), which is the most common type of blood cancer in adults, is slow-growing and has little impact on the patient’s health. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) develops over weeks or months. It affects adults over the age of 40 and is rare in children.
What are the symptoms of leukemia?
The GCC Health Council explained that the disease consists of a group of symptoms that occur together.
Among them:
Feeling tired. High temperature. Night sweats. Ease of bruising. Ease of exposure to wounds and bleeding. Losing weight unintentionally. Anorexia. Pain in bones and joints. Swelling of the lymph nodes. Constant exposure to infection. Anemia. Swelling and bleeding of the gums. Small red dots appear under the skin, resembling freckles.
What are the causes of leukemia?
Smoking. Exposure to certain chemicals. Previous exposure to cancer treatment, chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Certain genetic disorders, such as Down syndrome. Some types of viral infections, such as Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus. A history of blood disorders such as myelodysplastic syndrome. Family history of leukemia.
How is leukemia diagnosed?
The US Centers for Disease Control and Control explained, on its official website, that your health care provider may perform a number of procedures to determine whether you have leukemia.
They include the following:
Blood tests. Physical test. Imaging tests, such as X-rays, ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, and bone scan. Bone marrow biopsy. Surgical lymph node biopsy. Lumbar puncture. Complete medical history.
What are the methods of treating leukemia?
The disease can be treated in several ways, which may include the following:
Radiotherapy: It is a type of cancer treatment that uses high-energy X-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells and prevent them from growing. Chemotherapy: It is a treatment for cancer that is done by using drugs that stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing these cells or by preventing them from dividing and spreading. Chemotherapy can be taken orally, injected into a vein or muscle, or injected directly into the cerebrospinal fluid or the affected organ directly. In some cases, the doctor resorts to stem cell transplantation or bone marrow transplantation. Immunotherapy or biological therapy. Splenectomy.
What are the ways to prevent leukemia?
The GCC Health Council explained, through its official website, that there is no specific method for preventing leukemia. However, there are a number of factors that can help you.
Avoid exposure to dangerous chemicals such as benzene and toluene. Avoid unnecessary exposure to x-rays. Quit Smoking. Abstain from alcohol.
2023-10-14 08:41:59
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