Leukemia is a complex disease that greatly affects human health, and understanding it is an important step to dealing with it effectively. In this article, we review the most prominent symptoms and causes that lead to its infection. We will also discuss the latest methods of diagnosis and treatment to ensure advanced medical care for every patient.

What is leukemia?

Before talking about symptoms and treatment, it is necessary to understand what leukemia is and how it affects the body.

Leukemia is a type of tumor that affects blood cells and bone marrow, which is the part responsible for producing blood cells. Cancer cells begin to multiply abnormally, crowding out healthy cells, which affects the body's ability to fight infection, transport oxygen, and control bleeding.

The importance of early detection

Knowing the disease at an early stage significantly increases the chances of effective treatment and recovery.

The earlier leukemia is diagnosed, the better the chances of controlling it.

Types of leukemia and their effect on the body

To understand the disease well, it is necessary to know the different types of leukemia and how each type affects blood cells and body functions.

Leukemia occurs when normal blood cells mutate and begin to multiply in an abnormal way, affecting the immune system, oxygen transport, and the body's ability to stop bleeding. There are three main types:

Acute and chronic leukemia

It may be:

• Acute leukemia (AML or ALL): They appear suddenly, and the cells are immature and multiply rapidly, reducing the number of red blood cells and platelets, and leading to severe fatigue, frequent infections, and easy bleeding.
• Chronic leukemia (CML or CLL): It develops gradually, and the cells appear almost normal, but they accumulate over time, gradually affecting immunity, and it often affects the elderly.

Lymphoma

A type of blood cancer that affects the lymph nodes and the immune system, and is divided into two main types: Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin. Cancer cells multiply in the glands, spleen, and marrow, causing enlarged glands, night sweats, and high temperature.

Multiple myeloma

It affects the plasma cells responsible for producing antibodies. These cancer cells secrete an excess protein that affects the kidneys and bones and weakens immunity.

Also learn about: Learn about the types of leukemia, its symptoms, and how to prevent it

The effect of leukemia on the body

Cancer cells crowd out healthy cells, Which affects:

• Immunity: The body's ability to resist infection decreases.
• Oxygen transport: A lack of red blood cells leads to fatigue and exhaustion.
• Platelets: Its deficiency makes bleeding easier and faster.

It can also cause weight loss, bone pain, and a feeling of constant fatigue.

Causes of leukemia

After identifying the types, you must know the factors that increase the risk of developing leukemia. These reasons were as follows:

• Genetic factors: Having a family history or genetic mutations such as the Philadelphia chromosome increases the likelihood of infection.
• Exposure to radiation or chemicals: Exposure to benzene, previous chemotherapy, or nuclear radiation may lead to changes in the DNA of marrow cells, increasing the risk of infection.
• Chronic diseases and previous blood disorders: Such as anemia or autoimmune diseases, they make the body more vulnerable to disease, especially in cases of chronic leukemia.
• Environmental and lifestyle factors: Smoking, obesity, exposure to certain viruses such as EBV, or poor diet may weaken the body's natural defenses and increase the likelihood of infection.

Symptoms of leukemia: signs that should not be ignored

Early detection of leukemia symptoms increases the chances of early diagnosis and effective treatment and reduces the complications of the disease. Here is a list of its most prominent symptoms:

• Extreme fatigue and anemia

Constant fatigue, dizziness, and general exhaustion are among the most prominent signs of leukemia. This results from a decrease in red blood cells, which are responsible for transporting oxygen to all cells of the body. Anemia resulting from leukemia causes the patient to feel constantly exhausted, even after rest.

• Bleeding and bruising easily

Bruising from even the slightest trauma or frequent bleeding from the gums or nose may be the result of low platelets due to leukemia, which reduces the blood's ability to clot and increases the risk of bleeding and bruising.

• Fever and recurrent infections

Unexplained fever and recurring infections, such as throat or skin infections that do not go away easily, indicate weak white blood cells caused by leukemia. This leads to weak immunity and makes the body less able to fight bacteria and viruses.

• Unexplained weight loss and swollen glands

Rapid weight loss for no apparent reason with loss of appetite, along with swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpit, or groin, may indicate leukemia or lymphoma, the result of the accumulation of cancer cells in the glands.

• Bone and joint pain

Blood cancers such as multiple myeloma cause bone and joint pain as a result of bone marrow dysfunction and the buildup of harmful proteins, leading to easy fractures and chronic joint inflammation.

Methods of diagnosing leukemia: How the doctor confirms the condition

Diagnosing leukemia begins with initial blood tests, then progresses to accurate tests to determine the type and stage, which is an essential step for developing an effective treatment plan and increasing the chances of recovery.

• Complete blood test (CBC)

Complete blood analysis is one of the most important initial tests for leukemia, as it measures the number of white and red blood cells and platelets, and detects the presence of immature cells. This analysis helps determine the presence of a possible blood disorder that indicates leukemia.

• Bone marrow biopsy

A bone marrow biopsy is the most important test to confirm leukemia, as a sample of bone marrow is taken to examine the percentage and type of cancer cells, which allows distinguishing between leukemia, myeloma, or other types of blood cancer.

• Genetic testing and mutation detection

Tests such as FISH and PCR detect genetic mutations associated with leukemia, such as the Philadelphia chromosome in cases of chronic leukemia. These tests help determine the exact type of disease and develop the most appropriate treatment plan for each case.

Discover with us: Lymphocytic leukemia symptoms, causes and treatment methods

Stages of leukemia

Leukemia is not a disease with only one stage, but rather its stages vary according to its type, and each type has degrees that determine the extent of the disease’s spread in the body, which helps doctors develop the optimal treatment plan for each case.

Stages according to the type of cancer

Each type of leukemia has a different way of classifying its stages, as the stages depend on the amount of cancer cells and their spread in the body.

• Acute leukemia: Doctors focus on the percentage of cancer cells in the bone marrow and the body's response to the initial treatment to find out whether the number of cells is very high, and whether it has begun to decrease after the first doses of treatment.
• Chronic leukemia: It is usually divided into chronic (slow), accelerated, and blast stages, based on the number of blood cells and abnormal cells in the blood and marrow.
• Lymphoma and myeloma: Stages are often classified from 1 to 4 or according to a system specific to each type, and the size of the affected glands and whether the liver, spleen, or bone marrow are affected or not are measured.

The importance of knowing the stage

Knowing the stage of your leukemia is essential to determining the most appropriate treatment plan, including chemotherapy doses, the need for a bone marrow transplant, or the use of radiation or targeted therapy.

Treatment options

Treatment options vary according to the type of leukemia, its stage, and the patient’s condition, and there is a group of modern and traditional treatments to achieve the best results. These treatment options include:

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the mainstay of most cases of leukemia, as it targets rapidly dividing cancer cells and limits their spread in the blood and bone marrow.

• It is given in the form of intravenous injection or oral tablets.
• It includes the first stimulation phase to reduce cancer cells, then the consolidation phase to prevent the disease from returning.
• It may be accompanied by side effects such as hair loss, nausea, and fatigue, but specialized hospitals provide supportive medications to relieve these symptoms.

Radiotherapy

Radiation therapy is used for specific cases targeting specific areas of the body. It is relied upon to treat large lymphomas or to relieve bone pain in myeloma. It may be used as part of preparing the body before a bone marrow transplant.

Bone marrow or stem cell transplantation

Bone marrow transplantation is one of the strongest and most difficult types of treatment, as the diseased bone marrow is removed and replaced with healthy marrow from the patient or a suitable donor. It is often used in cases of acute or chronic leukemia, aggressive myeloma, or relapse after treatment. It requires a specialized center and a highly experienced team to ensure accurate follow-up and avoid complications.

Targeted therapy and modern medications

Targeted therapy focuses on specific parts within cancer cells, such as proteins or genetic mutations, to reduce the effect of treatment on healthy cells, and includes drugs that inhibit specific enzymes in chronic leukemia or drugs that target specific proteins in lymphoma and myeloma.

Side effects are often less than traditional chemotherapy, and it should be taken under medical supervision and constant examinations.

Prevention and risk reduction

Prevention is the first step in confronting leukemia, and risk factors can be reduced by following a healthy lifestyle and regular medical examination. You can reduce these risks by:

• Adopt a healthy lifestyle: Focus on eating a balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and healthy proteins, and reduce processed foods and harmful fats, while engaging in regular physical activity such as walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week.
• Early detection and periodic examination: Especially for those who have a family history of blood diseases or are exposed to harmful chemicals at work, it is important to see an internal medicine or hematologist when any strange symptoms appear, such as constant fatigue, bleeding or unexplained bruising.
• Avoid carcinogens and environmental pollutants: Reduce exposure to strong chemicals in the workplace, such as solvents and benzene, use appropriate means of protection, stay away from passive smoking, and pay attention to good ventilation at home and at work.

Advice for patients and their families

Facing leukemia is a difficult experience, both psychologically and physically, but understanding the disease and treatment plans can make it easier to deal with and improve the experience of the patient and his family. It is necessary:

• Dealing with treatment and side effects: Ask the doctor about each medication and how to use it, and be sure to record your questions before visiting the hospital.
• Psychosocial support: Having the family next to the patient, listening to him without judgment, and encouraging him to express his feelings reduces psychological stress and helps him tolerate treatment. A psychologist or support groups in the hospital can also be sought.
• Regular follow-up appointments and examinations: Periodic tests, such as blood tests and bone marrow biopsies, may be annoying, but they are necessary to monitor the body’s response to treatment, and punctuality is an integral part of the treatment plan.

See also: Early and late symptoms of leukemia: causes and types

Why choose Al Moosa Hospital for leukemia treatment?

Choosing a specialized hospital is crucial to achieving the best treatment outcomes, especially with a complex disease such as leukemia.

• Doctors’ experience and subspecialties: A specialized hospital that includes hematologists, oncologists, internists, and nurses trained to deal with cancer patients and immunodeficiency cases, which reduces errors and increases the chances of successful treatment.
• The latest diagnostic and therapeutic devices and techniques: The hospital is equipped with advanced laboratories for blood and genetic analysis, modern imaging devices, and well-equipped chemotherapy units, which makes diagnosis more accurate and dealing with complications faster.
• Personal follow-up and comprehensive support for the patient: The patient receives a written treatment plan, periodic review of tests, and education about nutrition, personal hygiene, and dealing with infection and bleeding, which gives the patient and his family a feeling of safety and reassurance.

Conclusion

Early detection of leukemia increases the chances of controlling the disease and successful treatment, so do not postpone screening when any disturbing symptoms appear.

If you notice any persistent symptoms such as unexplained fatigue, bleeding, fever, weight loss or swollen glands, it is important to see a doctor and not wait.

The most important step now is to book an examination and consultation to review the case with a hematologist and oncologist from Al Mousa HospitalsTo ensure an accurate assessment and appropriate treatment plan.

Call now To schedule an appointment with the best specialists in treating blood cancer and start your treatment journey with confidence and organization.

Frequently asked questions about “Leukemia”

Is leukemia contagious?

No, leukemia is not contagious in any way, and it cannot be transmitted through touch, blood or any bodily fluids.

How does psychological stress affect leukemia?

Psychological stress is not a direct cause of the disease, but it may reduce the body's immunity and make the patient less able to confront infection or tolerate treatment.

Is diet part of the plans for dealing with leukemia?

Diet does not cure the disease, but it helps the body tolerate chemotherapy and radiation, especially eating vegetables and fruits, healthy proteins, and drinking enough water.

How long does leukemia treatment take?

The duration of treatment varies depending on the type and stage. It may extend for weeks for initial chemotherapy, or may last for years for follow-up or targeted treatments. The doctor determines the duration of treatment for each case individually.

Can children get leukemia?

Yes, some types Leukemia It affects children, especially under the age of fifteen, but modern treatments provide great chances of recovery.

What lifestyle changes help prevent leukemia?

Staying away from smoking and alcohol, exercising regularly, eating well, and reducing exposure to chemicals at work help reduce the possibility of injury.

Are there support groups for leukemia patients?

Yes, there are support groups online or in hospitals that help patients and their families cope psychologically and share experiences and expertise with others.