What are the types, prevention, causes, symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment strategies of leukemia?
What are the types, prevention, causes, symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment strategies of leukemia?
Introduction
Leukemia accounts for less than three percent of the worldwide cancer burden, however, the trend has been drastically changing, attributed to a plethora of facets which have been of great interest and vast concern in the field of medicine. Similarly, leukemia can be diagnosed at any age, and it is typically in childhood. In contrast, the incidence of leukemia is higher in adults, increasing notably with age, causing a lot of worries and daunts among the population, which is analogous to Reaman (1) affirmation on the rapid increase in rates of leukemia. Further, the study of leukemia is very indispensable, since it equips one with appropriate knowledge on how to manage and contain the disease. The mysteries and difficulties encountered during diagnosis and treatment of leukemia also makes the topic interesting and one of the best choices.
Definition of Leukemia
According to Klosterman (2), leukemia is a disease in which group of cells that are normally found in the blood stream become so ample amounting to an imposed danger to an individual. Further, Leukemia is tentatively referred to as the cancer of the blood, and Ball and Kagan (3), affirm that leukemia can be described as a malignant disease of the white blood cells, depicted by the occurrence of excess or abnormal accumulation of white blood cells in the blood and the bone marrow. In tandem to this, there are several types of leukemia, and each type possesses different features, however the types of leukemia evince a similar characteristic, which is an uncontrolled growth of one of the several types of white blood cells (3).
Types of Leukemia
In light with this, there are four radical subtypes of leukemia and various other forms of the disease. The four major types of leukemia encompass; Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The other unusual and exceptional forms include; hairy cell leukemia, Sezary cell leukemia, plasma cell leukemia, leukemia phase of lymphoma and prolymphocytic leukemia (3). The nature of leukemia is highly dependent on the type of the white blood cells found in the blood stream. The leukocytes are normally categorized into Granulocytes which include basophils, eosinophils, and neutrophils, and agranulocytes which consists of macrophages, lymphocytes and monocytes, which perform different functions (3).
Causes of Leukemia
Acute forms of leukemia are caused by the absence of neutrophils, ascribed to the reduced ability of the body to repress bacterial and fungal infections (3). Similarly, leukemia is initiated by genetic upshots or inherited patterns of certain aspects, and the exact nature of the cells involved. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is generally caused by malignant transformation in the neutrophil precursor. On the other hand, CML arises, when the disease commences by a particular molecular effect in the stem cells-a class of cells where the blood cells arises (3). If the disease is initiated in the stem cell that has differentiated into the lymphoid lineage, the consequent leukemia is acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), whereas, CLL is caused by particular subset of lymphocytes which appear to be receptive to malignancy (3).
Risk Factors of Leukemia
Leukemia is majorly caused by mutated cells that may be damaged or altered in the DNA, thus, affecting the various genes. The DNA damaging agents are evidently the core initiators of leukemia, and they comprise of exposure to ionizing radiations, and previous treatment with chemotherapy, especially on pregnant women (4). Exposure to chemical substances like solvent benzene, and paternal consumption of tobacco are also risk factors for leukemia (4). Besides, organic compounds and medications like chemotherapy drugs-drugs used in treating cancer- growth hormones and butazolidin also pose a vital risk factor for leukemia. Genetic disorders for instance Down syndrome, blood syndrome, and ataxia telangiectasia, also increases chances of leukemia (3). The human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV-1) is also another risk factor common in Asia, America and the Caribbean. Other minor risk factors include, gender, age, family history, racial and ethnical factors, however, they are not very decisive in the development of the disease (5).
Symptoms of Leukemia
The most common symptoms of leukemia include fatigue and weakness, attributed to the weakening and reduced function of the white blood cells. The signs always develop rapidly or slowly, depending on the type of leukemia (5). The patients evince a plethora of indicants, which entail, rapid lose of weight, pale skin, fever, accompanied by drenching night sweats. Further, loss of appetite, increased rates of bleeding, both in the gums and nose are also common symptoms. In acute leukemia, lymph nodes become swollen and painful, there is tenderness in the upper abdomen ascribed to swollen liver or spleen, and most patients also experience bone and joint pains due to damaged bone marrows (5). Chronic leukemia, on the other hand, may not have any symptoms, and may be diagnosed incidentally during evaluation for another disease, or during the normal health checkup (5).
Diagnosis and Treatment of Leukemia
The frequent diagnosis method use is the blood test, and it is carried out in the laboratory with qualified doctors. Moreover, physical examination, biopsy and other test; cytogensis, x-ray and spinal taps, may be carried out to verify the presence of the disease (5). Ball and Kagan (3), assert that leukemia is a systematic disease, which requires a complex and detailed modes of treatment. The treatment always follows after diagnosis and it involves all parts of the body. Surgery and radio therapy are always rare, since the malignant cells are located in the blood stream and, thence, very difficult to locate. However, a patient may receive a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, to facilitate the perfect remission state.
Treatment commences immediately after diagnosis and test, to induce remission to abate the graveness of the disease. Therapies used in treating leukemia constitute of chemotherapy, which is highly attainable through the use of cytotoxic that is able to terminate leukemia cells, which is in accordance to Ball and Kagan (3) avowal on the production of cytotoxic drugs and their efficiency. In addition to this, immunotherapy is also used and it involves employing of monoclonal antibodies to suppress growth of malignant cells. Besides, antisense therapy is also applied, and it involves blocking of production of key protein materials that aid in advancement of the cancer cells.
Prevention of Leukemia
A set of risk factors like gender, age and ethnicity cannot be altered to manage and prevent the development of the disease. However, avoidance of exposure to related radiations and chemicals may also assist in the prevention of the disease. Frequent health check-up and blood tests, is very fundamental, as it helps in early timing and detection of the diseases, hence, early treatment (5). In conjunction to this, better patient teaching, should be enhanced to prevent ignorance, and instead spread awareness of the disease to the population.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, it is evident that incidences of leukemia among the world’s population are on the rise, and the knowledge and information about the disease is less spread. Consequently, more people are dying as a result of leukemia, withal, all the efforts put forward by doctors and researchers on how to curb the disease. Hence, it is very vital to spread awareness and impart knowledge concerning, symptoms, treatment and the genesis of the disease, to help save lives.
References
1. Reaman H. G, Smith O. F. Childhood Leukemia: A Practical Handbook. New York, NY: Springer; 2011.
2. Klosterman L. Leukemia. New York, NY: Marshall Cavendish Corporation; 2006.
3. Ball D. E, Kagan A. 100 Questions & Answers about Leukemia. 2nd Ed. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Barlett Learning; 2008.
4. Bracken M. J. Children with Cancer: A Comprehensive Reference Guide for Parents. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 2010.
5. Morrison C, Hesdorffer C. S. Johns Hopkins Patients' Guide to Leukemia. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Barlett Learning; 2011.
References
1. Reaman H. G, Smith O. F. Childhood Leukemia: A Practical Handbook. New York, NY: Springer; 2011.
(The book provided information that was useful in elaborating the choice of the topic. The book was accessed from an internet source).
2. Klosterman L. Leukemia. New York, NY: Marshall Cavendish Corporation; 2006.
(The book contributed a lot in defining and elaborating the meaning of leukemia. The book was accessed from an internet source).
3. Ball D. E, Kagan A. 100 Questions & Answers about Leukemia. 2nd Ed. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Barlett Learning; 2008.
(The source was useful as it provides all the relevant information that was required. The book was accessed from a local library).
4. Bracken M. J. Children with Cancer: A Comprehensive Reference Guide for Parents. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 2010.
(The source provided crucial information on risk factors o leukemia and it aided in the development of the paper. The book was accessed from an internet source)
5. Morrison C, Hesdorffer C. S. Johns Hopkins Patients' Guide to Leukemia. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Barlett Learning; 2011.
(The source was magnificent and it provided all the relevant information that aided in developing the paper. The book was accessed from an internet source).
