Leukemia, once considered a terminal disease, has made many people look bad. However, with the continuous advancement of medical technology, our understanding of leukemia is gradually deepening, and the treatment methods are becoming more and more advanced. Nowadays, more and more leukemia patients have successfully overcome the disease and are back to a healthy life. In this episode, we will talk about this topic.
Online big doctor: Zheng Zhengjin
Union Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University
Associate Professor, Chief Physician of the Hematology Lymphoma Subspecialty Group
Topic of this issue: Defeating Leukemia: From Terminal to Curable
What is leukemia
First of all, leukemia is not a "disease", it is a "cancer".
Compared with leukemia, the traditional folk name "blood cancer" can better summarize its essence - malignant tumors of the blood and hematopoietic system. Leukemia cancer cells are abnormal white blood cells that multiply and accumulate in the bone marrow, spleen and other hematopoietic tissues, causing a decrease in normal blood cells.
Like other cancers, leukemia has no clear direct cause, and a combination of genetic (internal) and environmental (external) factors contribute to the onset of leukemia.
Why do you get leukemia
The causes of leukemia can be briefly summarized as follows: physical factors (such as ionizing radiation), chemical factors (such as exposure to harmful substances), viral infections, genetic factors, and abnormalities of the immune system. These factors, either alone or in combination, can lead to malignant transformation of hematopoietic stem cells, leading to leukemia. The specific pathogenesis and process are complex and are still being studied in depth.
What are the symptoms of leukemia
Anemia: Leukemia patients may have different degrees of anemia symptoms, such as paleness, dizziness, fatigue, palpitation, etc.
Bleeding: Due to the decrease in the number of platelets and abnormal function in patients with leukemia, bleeding symptoms such as skin petechiae, ecchymosis, bleeding gums, and nosebleeds may occur.
Infection: Leukemia patients have a weakened immune function and are susceptible to infection, and may have symptoms of infection such as fever, cough, sputum production, frequent urination, and urgency.
Swollen lymph nodes: Leukemia cells can infiltrate lymph nodes, causing lymphadenopathy to enlarge, commonly found in the neck, armpits, groin, and other areas.
Sternal pain: Leukemia cells can infiltrate the sternum, causing sternal pain that can vary in severity and may be dull, dull, or severe.
What tests to do
Routine blood test: This is the most basic test to see if the number of white blood cells is abnormally high, and to check for anemia and thrombocytopenia.
Bone marrow examination: bone marrow aspirate is an important basis for diagnosing leukemia. With a bone marrow aspirate, the presence of leukemia cells in the bone marrow can be observed, as well as characteristics such as the morphology and number of cells, thus determining the type and extent of leukemia.
Immunophenotyping tests: Immunophenotyping tests can determine the source and type of leukemia cells, which can help make treatment plans and predict the disease.
Chromosomal and genetic testing: Chromosomal and genetic testing can help determine the genetic characteristics and prognosis of leukemia, and for some specific types of leukemia, such as chronic myeloid leukemia, specific genetic testing may also be done.
Other tests: Depending on the patient's specific condition, other tests may be required, such as liver and kidney function tests, coagulation tests, imaging tests, etc.
How it's treated
At present, the treatment of leukemia mainly includes: chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, stem cell transplantation, etc.
In the past, leukemia was difficult to treat, the treatment period was long, and many people felt that leukemia was equivalent to an "incurable disease" due to the exaggerated descriptions of many literary and artistic works. With the continuous development of medical standards, "incurable diseases" have become a thing of the past, and more and more patients have been cured or survived for a long time.
Disclaimer
This article aims to popularize health science, to help you understand diseases and medications, the content of popular science can not replace the doctor's diagnosis and treatment opinions, for reference only, if you have related health problems, please consult a doctor in time.
Introduced by the doctor
Zheng Zhengjin
Chief physician, associate professor of the Hematology Lymphoma Subspecialty Group of the Union Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, member and liaison member of the White Group of the Fujian Hematology Branch, leukemia professional member of the Fujian Hematology Physician Branch, member of the Standing Committee of the Hematology and Immunology Committee of the Fujian Immunology Society, member of the Hematology and Tumor Committee of the Fujian Anti-Cancer Association, and member of the Chronic Rheistochemia Leukemia Working Group of Zhejiang, Fujian and Jiangxi. Main directions: diagnosis and treatment of hematological malignancies and morphological pathology of bone marrow.