Leukemia – Symptoms and Causes
Understanding Blood Cancer
Leukemia affects the blood-forming parts of the body like bone marrow and the lymphatic system. This type of cancer changes how white blood cells work.
In healthy people, white blood cells fight infections by growing and dividing in a controlled way. With leukemia, the bone marrow makes too many abnormal white blood cells that don’t work properly.
Different types of leukemia exist. Some types appear more often in children, while other types are more common in adults.
Treatment approaches vary based on:
- The specific type of leukemia
- Individual patient factors
- Disease progression
Treatment can be complex, but many resources exist to help patients through their journey. With proper care, many people experience good results.
Signs and Symptoms
People with leukemia may experience a range of symptoms. These can include:
- Fever or chills
- Ongoing tiredness and weakness
- Many or serious infections
- Weight loss without dieting
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Enlarged liver or spleen
- Bleeding or bruising easily
- Frequent nosebleeds
- Small red dots on the skin
- Heavy night sweats
- Pain or tenderness in bones
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
If you notice any lasting symptoms that concern you, schedule an appointment with your doctor. Many leukemia symptoms can seem like common illnesses such as the flu, making them easy to dismiss at first.
Sometimes doctors find leukemia by chance during routine blood tests for other health issues. Don’t hesitate to discuss any unusual or persistent health changes with your healthcare provider.
What Causes Blood Cancer
Blood cancer happens when cells in the blood change their DNA. DNA tells cells when to grow and die. When DNA changes, blood cells keep growing without stopping. These changed cells multiply too much in the bone marrow.
This displaces healthy cells. With fewer healthy cells, a person may feel tired or get sick more easily. The exact reason why some people get blood cancer isn’t fully known. Scientists think it involves both genes and things in our environment.
Blood Cancer Classification
Doctors group blood cancers by how fast they grow and what kind of cells they affect.
By speed of growth:
Fast-growing (acute) – These involve young, immature blood cells that don’t work properly. They multiply quickly and need immediate treatment.
Slow-growing (chronic) – These involve more mature blood cells. They can work normally for a while and may grow slowly. Some people might have this type for years without knowing.
By cell type affected:
Lymphoid cancers – These affect lymphocytes, which are part of the immune system.
Myeloid cancers – These affect myeloid cells, which develop into red blood cells, some white blood cells, and platelets.
Types of Blood Cancer
There are several main types of blood cancer:
| Type | Description | Affects |
|---|---|---|
| Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) | Fast-growing cancer of lymphoid cells | Mostly children, can affect adults |
| Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) | Fast-growing cancer of myeloid cells | Both children and adults |
| Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) | Slow-growing cancer of lymphoid cells | Mainly adults, may not need treatment for years |
| Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) | Slow-growing cancer of myeloid cells | Mainly adults, may have few symptoms initially |
Less common types include:
- Hairy cell leukemia
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Myeloproliferative disorders
Some blood cancers might not cause symptoms for a long time. Others require quick treatment. The type of blood cancer affects treatment choices and outlook.
Risk Factors
Several factors may raise your chances of getting leukemia:
- Cancer Treatment History: People who have received certain chemotherapy drugs or radiation therapy for other cancers face a higher risk of developing leukemia later.
- Genetic Conditions: Some inherited disorders, particularly Down syndrome, are linked to increased leukemia risk.
- Chemical Exposure: Contact with certain chemicals can raise your risk. Benzene, found in gasoline and used in industrial processes, has been connected to some leukemia types.
- Tobacco Use: Smoking cigarettes increases the chance of developing acute myelogenous leukemia.
- Family History: Having relatives who have been diagnosed with leukemia might mean you have a higher risk yourself.
Most people with these risk factors never develop leukemia. Also, many people diagnosed with leukemia have none of these risk factors, suggesting other causes may be involved that researchers haven’t yet identified.
