The stem cells are formed by the leukemia cells in the bone
marrow.These cells have uncontrolled growth and lead to decrease
production of normal blood cells.From this point of view the symptoms
are:anemia, increased risk of bleeding which include bleeding gums,
nosebleeds, bruising, increased risk of infection, slow healing.
The common symptoms of leukemia are:fatigue, lack of appetite, weight
loss, fever,sweating.When leukemia arrives to the thymus gland the
possible symptoms are:coughing or shortness of breath when the trachea
is pressed by the enlarged thymus and swelling of the head and arms
(SVC syndrome) when the superior vena cava is pressed by the enlarged
thymus.
In the case when the leukemia spreads to the central nervous system
there are other possible symptoms like: headaches, poor school
performance, weakness, seizures, vomiting, poor balance, blurred
vision.Other potential symptoms are: enlargement of the liver and
spleen, enlargement of the lymph nodes,enlargement of the testicles and
bone or joint pain.
The symptoms of acute myelogenous leukemia are gingivitis and rash.The
blood tests demanded for the leukemia diagnosis are: low red blood cell
count, low platelets count, high white blood cell count, presence of
white blood cell blasts.If blood tests shows leukemia presence,
additional cells for analysis are obtained from the : bone marrow named
bone marrow biopsy, lymph nodes named lymph node excision and
cerebrospinal fluid named spinal tap.
To classify leukemia are used the following techniques: microscopic
analysis of cell size and shape, cytochemistry-microscopic analysis of
cell after treatment with chemicals, immunocytochemistry of flow
cytometry-analysis of cells after treatment with laboratory antibodies,
cytogenetics-analysis of the chromosomes in leukemia cells and
molecular genetics-analysis of specific DNA sequences in leukemia cells.
When a child is diagnosed with leukemia the tests to be performed are
the following: a chest x-ray for determine leukemia masses in the
chest, bone x-rays for determine leukemia invasion of the bones or
joints, a CT Scan for determine leukemia in certain lymph nodes and an
MRI for determine leukemia in the brain.After the leukemia has been
diagnosed additional tests can give informational about: the type of
leukemia, the characteristics of the leukemia cells and its evolution
through the body.
Acute lymphocytic leukemia in most cases is present to children and is
indicated by two types: high-risk or low-risk.Patients with low-risk
respond better to treatment with the possibility of curding, and
patients with high-risk respond also to treatment but receive a more
intensive treatment.Even if leukemia represents the blood cancer
nowadays it can be treated due to the science evolution.
