The first signs of leukemia - and when to see the doctor
This rare disease requires your attention.
You have heard about skin cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, rectal cancer - perhaps the pancreatic and kidney cancers. But less chatting discussion, it's blood cancer. This is because it is less common, with less than 200,000 cases per year, and because the most published type goes through a different name: leukemia.
And it's time, especially during this month of awareness of childhood cancer and awareness of childhood cancer - that we start talking about leukemia.
What is leukemia?
Leukemia is a blood cancer, including body blood formation tissues, including bone marrow and lymphatic system. It affects the three blood cells: platelets, white blood cells and red blood cells. Billions of blood cells are produced in the daily bone marrow, but when the body has leukemia, it produces more white cells (lymphoids and myeloids), and everything is thrown out of guys.
There are not enough platelets in the blood clot, red blood cells providing oxygen or white blood cells working as they would normally combat infection.
There are two distinct forms of leukemia: acute and chronic. Acute forms of leukemia are severe and sudden appeared, while chronic develops over time and not also easily detected. Acute lymphocyte is the most common in children, while others, such as myeloid and lymphocyte chronoic adults, impact.
Here are the four common types of leukemias and is mainly affected by each.
- Acute lymphocyte leukemia (all)-This cancer usually starts in the bone marrow where blood cells are made. It is the most common leukemia in children (Making 80% of cases) but, in rare cases, can also occur in adults.
- Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)-Starting in cells forming bone marrow blood and invading blood, this cancer generally affects seniors aged 65 or older. Although rare, AML can also develop as soon as a few days after birth.
- Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)-The 15% of adult leukemia areCMLAlso called leukemia myth. Overall, one in 526 will get CML in their lives.
- Chronic lymphocyte leukemia (CLL)-The average, people diagnosed with CLL have about 70 years. The CLL accounts for about a quarter of new cases of leukemia, according to the American Cancer Society, which estimates that there will be 20,720 new CLL cases in 2019.
What are the first signs and symptoms?
The symptoms of leukemia can occur because of the shortage of normal blood cells, which occur when leukemia cells were heading normal blood manufacturing cells in the bone marrow. "In general, the symptoms of acute leukemia are those that must not have enough normal blood cells, and if you do not have enough white blood cells, you can access your doctor with infections," says Don A. Stevens, MD, Medical Oncologist, Institute of Norton Cancer. "Chronicles, infections, fevers, chills and platelets can also be affected, which may have bleeding, bruising, a small red point under the skin - initially in the lower body, under the knees, Ankles or feet. As the disease worsens that you can see these points elsewhere. "
Separate symptoms include:
- Dizziness or dizziness
- Shortness of breath
- Tired
- Feel
- Pale skin
- Infections that will not disappear
- Bruising (small red of purple spots on the skin
- Chronic bleeding (including gums, nose noses, etc.)
Unfortunately, when it comes to chronic leukemia, there are not many clear symptoms, and these cases are usually at a blood test when too much white blood cells can be detected. Some chronic leukemia do not have many symptoms initially, according to Stevens. Patients can discover a chronic condition when they went to the hospital or an emergency room for another problem.
"One of the frightening things about this disease is the speed with which it can come to you," says Stevens. "You can be very good, maybe tired, but for the most part yourself, then three weeks later, you can have trouble with gums, you run up to the kitchen counter and you get a huge bruise at Location of a small, maybe you have blood in your urine and all this is very fast. "
For more information, be sure to visit the American Cancer Society . And to protect you from all kinds of diseases, do not miss this essential relationship: 100 ways your home can make you sick .