Definition
Definition
Leukemia is a cancer of the blood cells. In cancer, cells become abnormal and grow out of control. As the number of abnormal blood cells increase, the healthy blood cells are outnumbered. There are three main types of blood cells. Each has a distinct job:
- White blood cells (WBC), also called lymphocytes, are most often involved in leukemia. Their main job is to help the immune system.
- Red blood cells (RBC) carry oxygen throughout the body.
- Platelets help the blood clot at injury sites.
Leukemia cells cannot do the job of normal blood cells. This causes many of the symptoms of leukemia. The disease starts in the bone marrow where blood cells are made. The most common types of leukemia are:
- Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
- Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
- Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)
White Blood CellsLeukemia cells outnumber healthy white blood cells and gather in spleen and lymph nodes.
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Causes
Causes
Cancer occurs when cells in the body divide without control or order. Normally, cells divide in a regulated manner. If cells keep dividing uncontrollably when new cells are not needed, a mass of tissue forms, called a growth or tumor. The term cancer refers to malignant growths. These growths can invade nearby tissues. Cancer that has invaded nearby tissues can then spread to other parts of the body.
It is not clear exactly what causes these problems in the cells, but it is probably a combination of genetics and environment.
Risk Factors
Risk Factors
Factors that may increase your chance of leukemia include:
- Current or past smoking is strongly associated with AML. Risk is compounded by how much you smoked and for how long.
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Age:
- AML and CLL are most common in adults over 60 years.
- ALL is most common in children.
- Chemotherapy for previous cancer.
- Some genetic diseases such as Down syndrome.
- Chronic exposure to benzene that exceeds federally approved safety limits.
- Previous radiation therapy.
- Myelodysplastic syndrome —A blood disease, which increases risk for AML.
Symptoms
Symptoms
Leukemia may cause:
- Fever or night sweats
- Flu-like symptoms
- Minor cuts that heal slowly
- Excessive reaction to insect bites
- Feeling weak or tired
- Headache
- Pale skin
- Bleeding and bruising easily
- Nosebleeds
- Bleeding gums
- Tiny red spots under the skin
Excess leukemia cells can gather in different parts of the body and organs creating:
- Pain in the bones or joints
- Puffy gums
- Rash
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling of testicles
- Swelling or discomfort in the abdomen (from enlarged spleen)
- Swollen lymph nodes (particularly in neck or armpit)
- Weight loss
- Meningitis with headache, nausea, loss of muscle control, seizures, symptoms of stroke
Diagnosis
Diagnosis
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. The doctor will check for swelling of the liver, spleen, or lymph nodes in the armpits, groin, and neck.
Tests may include:
- Blood tests—to look for leukemia cells in blood
- Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy —the removal of a sample of bone marrow to look for cancer cells
If cancer cells are found, additional tests may be done. These tests check if the cancer has spread and what systems may already be affected.
- Lumbar puncture —removal of the liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord
- Imaging tests to evaluate other bodily structures:
Treatment
Treatment
The goal for acute leukemia is to destroy all signs of the disease and return the blood and bone marrow to normal. Chronic leukemia is rarely curable. Treatment focuses on slowing disease progression.
Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Options include the following:
Medication
- Imatinib mesylate—used to treat myeloid leukemia by reducing the number of cancer cells in the blood and bone marrow
- Nilotinib—targeted therapy similar to imatinib
- Dasatinib—targeted therapy similar to imatinib (if leukemia cells become resistant to imatinib)
These drugs can cause infertility and early menopause. Talk to your doctor about your fertility options before you start treatment.
Your doctor may prescribe medications to stimulate the production of healthy blood cells.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. It may be given in many forms including pill, injection, and via a catheter. The drugs enter the bloodstream and travel through the body killing mostly cancer cells. Some healthy cells are killed as well. The specific combination of drugs will depend on the type of leukemia, your age, and condition.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is a type of treatment that uses radiation to kill cancer cells. Typically, it is only used to prepare for a bone marrow transplant or in some cases of chronic leukemia.
Procedures
- Blood transfusions —Healthy blood cells from a donor are given through an IV. This may be done if the leukemia is causing shortness of breath, fatigue, or severe bleeding.
- Bone marrow transplant —Stem cells from a donor’s healthy bone marrow are injected in you. Stem cells can make all types of blood cells. Once injected into your bloodstream, the stem cells should make healthy blood cells.
- Splenectomy —The spleen may need to be removed if it becomes congested with leukemia cells.
Biological Therapy (Immunotherapy)
The therapy uses medications or substances made by the body to improve your body’s defense against cancer. This type of treatment is still fairly new and under investigation. Talk with you doctor about whether this treatment is an option for you and about clinical trials in your area.
Prevention
Prevention
To help reduce your chance of leukemia:
- If you smoke, talk to your doctor about how you can successfully quit
- Avoid exposure to benzene
- Avoid exposure to high levels of radiation when possible
RESOURCES:
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada http://www.llscanada.org
References:
Conn HF, Rakel RE. Conn’s Current Therapy 2001. 53rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company; 2001.
Leukemia. American Cancer Society website. Available at:
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/leukemia/index
Accessed December 12, 2014.
Leukemia. National Cancer Institute website. Available at:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/leukemia
Accessed December 12, 2014.
Leukemia. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society website. Available at:
http://www.lls.org/diseaseinformation/leukemia
Accessed December 12, 2014.
Noble J. Textbook of Primary Care Medicine. 3rd ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby, Inc.; 2001.
A PET scan may improve leukemia care. UW HealthAvailable website. Available at:
http://www.uwhealth.org/news/a-pet-scan-may-improve-leukemia-care/14001
Accessed December 12, 2014.
8/26/2014 DynaMed’s Systematic Literature Surveillance
http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed:
Fircanis S, Merriam P, et al. The relation between cigarette smoking and risk of acute myeloid leukemia: An updated meta-analysis of epidemiological studies. Am J Hematol. 2014;89(8):E125-E132.
Last Updated: August 26, 2014
Last Updated: 12/20/2014