Find Out More About Blood Cancer : Types, Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Blood cancer or leukemia is a cancer that attacks white blood cells. White blood cells are blood cells that function to protect the body against foreign objects or diseases. This white blood cell is produced by the spinal cord.

In normal conditions, white blood cells will develop regularly when the body needs it to eradicate the infection that appears. But it's different with people with blood cancer. Bone marrow will produce abnormal white blood cells, cannot function properly, and excessively. Excessive amounts will result in accumulation in the bone marrow so that healthy blood cells will decrease.

In addition to accumulating, these abnormal cells can also spread to other organs, such as the liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, even to the brain and spine.

Types of Blood Cancer

There are various types of blood cancers. Based on the speed of its development, this cancer can be classified into acute and chronic.

Acute blood cancer develops rapidly due to the addition of abnormal white blood cells or immature cells that cannot function normally. This growth is so rapid that it spreads into the bloodstream. This type must be handled immediately. If left unchecked, the body will be deprived of oxygen and the body's immunity to disease or infection decreases.

Meanwhile, chronic blood cancer develops slowly and in the long run. White blood cells that should have died will remain alive and accumulate in the bloodstream, bone marrow, and other related organs. These cells are more mature so they can function properly for a few moments. Therefore, the symptoms tend not to be felt immediately so they are only diagnosed after years.

Blood cancer can also be categorized according to the type of white blood cells that are attacked. Blood cancers that attack lymph cells are known as lymphotic leukemia and those that attack myeloid cells are called myelogenic leukemia.

Based on the two groupings above, there are four types of blood cancer that occur most often. The following is an explanation for each type.

Acute lymphotic leukemia or acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)

ALL can inhibit lymphocyte function so that the sufferer has the potential to experience a serious infection. This blood cancer is generally suffered by children, but can also attack adults.

Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)

This is a type of blood cancer that generally attacks adults. But AML can also be suffered by children and adolescents. This cancer will form myeloid cells that are imperfect and can clog arteries.

Chronic lymphotic leukemia or chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)

This type of blood cancer is only experienced by adults. CLL is generally only detected at an advanced stage because patients tend not to feel the symptoms for a long time.

Chronic myelogen leukemia or Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)

This type of blood cancer is mostly suffered by people over the age of 20 years. CML has two stages. In the first stage, abnormal cells will develop slowly. When entering the second stage, the number of abnormal cells will increase rapidly so that it will decrease dramatically.

In general, blood cancer or leukemia involves the bone marrow which is the place where white blood cells are made. Cells that are generally effective in eradicating this infection grow abnormally so that ultimately makes the body's immune function not function optimally.

Symptoms of Blood Cancer

The symptoms of blood cancer are very diverse. Each sufferer usually has different indications, depending on the type of blood cancer he has.

These indications of cancer also tend to be difficult to recognize because they tend to be similar to other conditions, such as flu. Therefore, we need to be aware of general symptoms that are not improving or subsiding, such as:

Continuous fatigue or fatigue.
Fever.
Shivering.
Headache.
Throws up.
Excessive sweating, especially at night.
Pain in bones or joints.
Weight loss.
Swollen lymph, liver, or spleen.
Severe or frequent infections occur.
Easily experience bleeding (eg frequent nosebleeds) or bruises.
Red spots appear on the skin.

If you or your child experience any of the above symptoms, immediately contact and see a doctor. Especially for symptoms that often recur or don't improve.

Causes and Blood Cancer Risk Factors

The basic cause of blood cancer is not known with certainty. However, suspected DNA mutations in white blood cells cause changes in the actions of each cell. In addition, other changes in white blood cells due to gene and environmental factors are also thought to contribute to leukemia.

Factors that are thought to increase blood cancer risk include:

Heredity or genetics. People with Down syndrome or other rare genetic disorders increase the risk of developing acute leukemia. While chronic lymphatic leukemia is often inherited in families and is usually experienced by men. In addition, a family history of leukemia can also increase the risk of experiencing the same disease.
Have had cancer treatment. Certain chemotherapy or radiotherapy is thought to trigger blood cancer.
Have experienced exposure to high levels of radiation or certain chemicals. For example, people who have been involved in accidents related to nuclear reactors or experienced chemical exposure such as benzene.
Smoke. Cigarettes will not only increase the risk of blood cancer (especially acute myelogen leukemia), but also various other diseases.

Even so, most people with high risk above do not experience leukemia. On the other hand, leukemia sufferers are often found precisely in people who do not have these risks.

Blood Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

In the initial stage, the doctor will ask for symptoms before checking your physical condition. On a physical examination, the doctor will look for some signs of leukemia such as pale skin due to anemia, lymph node swelling, and enlarged liver and spleen. If your doctor suspects you have blood cancer, your doctor will recommend a more detailed examination that includes blood tests and bone marrow biopsy.

On a blood test, the doctor will look for abnormalities in the number of white blood cells or platelets. People with leukemia generally have levels of white blood cells that are much higher than normal.

In addition, your doctor may advise you to do a spinal cord test. On this examination, the doctor will use a long thin needle to take your spinal cord tissue sample. These tissue samples will then be examined further in the laboratory to show the type of blood cancer you are experiencing and the most appropriate treatment options.

Blood Cancer Treatment

After a positive diagnosis of blood cancer, the doctor will discuss the appropriate treatment steps. The type of treatment that you will live depends on your age, your health condition, and the type or stage of blood cancer you are taking.

The following are treatment methods that are generally recommended to treat blood cancer, including:

Chemotherapy is the most common therapeutic option for leukemia cases. Chemotherapy treatment uses chemicals to kill blood cancer cells.
Radiotherapy. This treatment technique uses X-rays to destroy and inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Radiotherapy can be done only in certain areas that have cancer, or in the whole body, depending on your condition. Radiotherapy can also be done to prepare for stem cell transplantation.
Stem cell transplant or stem cell to replace damaged bone marrow with a healthy one. The stem cells used can come from your own body or the body of another person as a donor. Chemotherapy or radiotherapy will usually be done as a preparation step before undergoing this transplant procedure.
Focused therapy to attack vulnerable parts in cancer cells.
Biological therapy to help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.
Waiting for supervision. This is intended for patients with chronic lymphatic leukemia. In this therapy, careful observation is carried out to see the progression of the disease. This therapy can also be done if a person has been proven to have chronic lymphatic leukemia, but does not experience symptoms that indicate the disease.

By: dr. Marianti / Alodokter

Reference:

Mayo Clinic (2017). Diseases & Conditions. Leukemia.
Angle, A. Cancer Council Victoria Australia (2013). Leukaemia.
Angle, A. Cancer Council Victoria Australia (2013). Diagnosing Leukaemia.
Leukaemia Foundation Australia. Leukaemias.
Canadian Cancer Society. Leukemia. Symptoms of leukemia.
Canadian Cancer Society. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Treatments for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.