Medical Description

Leukemia is a form of cancer. The bone marrow in people with leukemia produces abnormal white blood cells. The abnormal cells are called leukemia cells. Leukemia cells initially function normally, but in time, pushes out normal blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.

Symptoms

• Fevers
• Night sweats
• Frequent infections
• Feeling weak or tired
• Headache
• Bleeding and bruising easily (bleeding gums, purplish patches in the skin, or tiny red spots under the skin)
• Pain in the bones or joints
• Swelling or discomfort in the abdomen (from an enlarged spleen)
• Swollen lymph nodes, especially in the neck or armpit
• Weight loss

General Information

There are two types of leukemia: chronic or acute.

In chronic leukemia, the disease progresses slowly as compared to acute leukemia. People with chronic leukemia can have abnormal blood cells that still work and may show no sign of symptoms during the early part of the disease.
Chronic leukemia slowly worsens as the number of leukemia cells in the blood rises.

In acute leukemia, the disease progresses more rapidly as compared to chronic leukemia. In acute leukemia, the blood cells are very abnormal and can not function correctly. The number of abnormal blood cells that increases rapidly.

Depending on the type and extent of the disease, patients may have chemotherapy, biological therapy, radiation therapy, or bone marrow transplantation. Surgery may also be recommended and some patients receive a combination of treatments.

The goal of treatment is to bring about a remission. When signs and symptoms disappear, more therapy may be given to prevent a relapse. This type of therapy is called maintenance therapy.

Source: “Leukemia,”, MedicineNet.com, October 4, 2007.

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