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Baptist Cancer Center provides information about leukemia, including the various types, symptoms, causes, risk factors and treatment options.
Blood cancers affect the production and function of your blood cells. Most of these cancers start in your bone marrow where blood is produced. Cancerous blood cells prevent your body from fighting off infections or preventing serious bleeding. Common blood cancers are leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome. They are discussed below.
Leukemia is cancer that starts in the blood-forming cells of the bone marrow. Leukemia affects white blood cells, which help fight infection when functioning properly. Leukemia leads to production of abnormal white blood cells, which eventually outnumber the amount of healthy cells. This affects the blood's ability to do its jobs - delivering oxygen throughout the body, controlling bleeding and fighting infection.
Treatment for leukemia varies depending on the type and stage of leukemia, as well as the patient's age and overall health.
Recommended care plans may include various therapies, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and/or a stem cell transplant.
Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a bone marrow disorder which can lead to acute leukemia. Blood cells in the bone marrow do not mature or become healthy blood cells. This means that there are not enough normal blood cells in your bone marrow which can lead to infection, anemia or easy bleeding. Most patients that acquire MDS are older, usually past age 65; however, it may affect younger patients as well.
Failure of the bone marrow to produce mature healthy cells can be gradual process; therefore, symptoms may not be present early in the disease. Common symptoms may include:
If symptoms indicate that MDS may be a potential diagnosis, a doctor will perform a series of tests that may include a physical exam, blood test or biopsy. Further testing may be necessary to confirm a diagnosis.
Treatment for MDS varies depending on the type, as well as the patient's age and overall health. Recommended care plans may include various therapies, including chemotherapy and/or a stem cell transplant.
Your doctor will decide on a treatment for your myelodysplastic syndrome that depends on the type of MDS you have and how severe it is. You and your doctor may just take a watchful waiting approach. Your doctor might just want to do regular check-ups if your symptoms are mild and your blood counts are holding up OK.
Leukemia is typically classified as either acute or chronic. Chronic leukemia develops slowly, while acute leukemia develops very quickly. A patient with acute leukemia may start to show symptoms before being diagnosed, while the first sign of chronic leukemia is usually an abnormal blood test. Leukemia is also classified by the type of cells in which the cancer started. Myeloid leukemia develops in the myeloid cells; lymphoid leukemia begins in the lymphoid cells. The four most common types of leukemia are:
Recognizing the signs of leukemia allows for timely intervention, potentially increasing the chances of successful treatment and improving your quality of life.
Leukemia forms when a genetic mutation is found in the DNA of blood cells. The exact cause of the mutation remains unknown at this time, although it is believed to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Risk factors may include:
The symptoms of leukemia vary depending on the type of leukemia and on the patient. Symptoms are commonly overlooked, as they are often vague and may depict other minor illnesses. Common symptoms may include:
If symptoms indicate that leukemia may be a potential diagnosis, a doctor will perform a series of tests that may include a physical exam, blood test or biopsy. Further testing may be necessary to confirm a diagnosis.
Related Information
As a patient at Baptist Cancer Center, you will have access to a dedicated patient navigator who will act as your advocate and liaison between you and your health care teams. Our patient navigators are available at every step to schedule appointments, answer questions, explain the treatment process, and provide resources, education and support when you and your family need it.