Leukemia, or leukemia - what is it? What is the terrible disease that suddenly and absolutely unexpectedly affects a person? By the way, most often at risk are children and adolescents. Today's article will be devoted to this disease.
Leukemia - what is it?
Leukemia refers to a malignant disease of the hematopoietic system, which has both an acute and a chronic course, and is expressed in violation of the division and maturation of blood cells.
White blood cells produced by the bone marrow and performing protective functions in the body, removing bacteria and viruses from it , at some point cease to fully mature and, accordingly, can no longer perform their direct functions.
This ballast fills the hematopoietic system over time, displacing healthy blood cells and causing the manifestation of the main symptoms of this disease: anemia, bleeding, and malfunctioning of the affected organs.
Why does the disease occur?
Leukemia is not yet fully understood. Unfortunately, no one knows the true causes of the disease. But it is already known that most often this pathology appears after exposure to ionizing radiation, some chemical compounds, as well as viruses. An important factor is the genetic predisposition of the body, manifested in the peculiarities of its structure.
Acute leukemia - what is it?
Depending on the rate of development of the disease, leukemia is divided into acute and chronic. The condition of a patient with an acute form of the disease worsens rapidly, while chronic leukemia has been almost asymptomatic for many years.
The acute form begins with a sharp increase in temperature, and sometimes signs of a sore throat or stomatitis also join this. This condition is accompanied by bone pain, increased weakness, decreased appetite, bouts of nausea and vomiting. On examination, an increase in lymph nodes, liver and spleen is noted. The appearance of bruises on the body is noticed even from minor bruises. As a rule, the patient's body weight decreases markedly, there is a danger of internal bleeding.
How is the diagnosis made?
Chronic leukemia can be detected during a routine examination, when a blood test shows a strong increase in immature cells (blasts).
After a medical examination, a patient with suspected leukemia is also sent for bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. This helps to clarify the diagnosis and determine the type of leukemia in this patient. Only after this treatment is prescribed. And not always blood cancer - this is a death sentence. It all depends on how early the symptoms of the disease are detected.
When to see a doctor?
Now you know the answer to the question: "Leukemia - what is it?" Let's learn about how to recognize the disease. A doctor must be consulted if:
- sore throat lasts more than 2 weeks;
- gums constantly bleed, blood appears in the feces and urine, nosebleeds become more frequent;
- you have an inexplicable and persistent fever, you often suffer from infectious diseases;
- you lose weight;
- you sweat a lot at night;
- lymph nodes are enlarged.
But remember that these symptoms do not always mean the presence of leukemia, they can signal other diseases. In any case, you need to undergo an examination and find out the reason for the change in well-being.