leukemia: do you know the signs?
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chronic leukemia is often detected by routine blood tests before symptoms appear. getty
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leukemia is an umbrella term for a range of blood cancers that begin in the bone marrow, the spongy inner area of bones that produce blood cells. the specific type of leukemia a person is diagnosed with depends on which blood cells become cancerous and the rate with which they multiply. over time, cells that do become cancerous can grow out of control and crowd out healthy cells, preventing them from developing normally.
there are four main types of leukemia, according to the leukemia and lymphoma society of canada, which are grouped according to the type of blood cells they develop from: acute lymphocytic leukemia (all), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (cll), acute myeloid leukemia (aml) and chronic myeloid leukemia (cml). treatment for this disease can be complicated as it depends upon the specific type (or subtype) of leukemia and whether it is acute (develops quickly over days or weeks) or chronic (develops slowly over months or years).
leukemia occurs most often in adults after the age of 55, but it is also the most common cancer experienced by children younger than 15. while there is currently no cure for the disease, long-term remission is possible following aggressive treatment. this state does not always last, however, and the cancer may return at a later date.
what are the symptoms of leukemia?
signs of a blood cancer vary by type, according to the canadian cancer society, with acute cases initially presenting symptoms similar to the flu and chronic cases exhibiting few signs in the early stages. other symptoms can include fatigue, fever or chills, weakness and night sweats.
how is leukemia diagnosed?
although chronic leukemia is often detected by routine blood tests before symptoms appear, diagnosis usually begins with a physical exam by a doctor who will look for telltale signs of the disease, including pale skin, swollen lymph nodes or an enlarged liver or spleen. other tests may include:
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- complete blood count (determines the number and quality of red blood cells, white bloods cells and platelets)
- blood chemistry tests (determines how organs are functioning and detects levels of chemicals that may be indicative of leukemia)
- bleeding and clotting factors (tests how well the body can clot blood. abnormal levels of clotting may point to leukemia)
- lumbar puncture (also known as a spinal tap, this procedure gives doctors a closer look at the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord)
- bone marrow biopsy (cells are removed from bone marrow for lab testing)
- imaging tests (including a chest x-ray, ct scan, mri and ultrasound)
- other tests (such as cytochemistry, immunophenotyping, immunochemistry and flow cytometry, which help give doctors a closer look at blood cells)
how is leukemia treated?
doctors will determine the appropriate treatment for a specific patient depending on a number of factors, including age, overall health and the type and progression of their cancer. treatment can include:
- chemotherapy (uses chemicals to kill cancer cells)
- radiation therapy (uses high energy beams to kill cancer cells)
- bone marrow or stem cell transplant (helps the body replace damaged cells with new, healthy ones)
- targeted therapy (focuses on blocking specific abnormalities within cancer cells)
- immunotherapy (uses drugs to amplify the immune system)
can i prevent leukemia?
there is currently no way to prevent leukemia but you may be able to reduce the risk of a diagnosis by quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding long-term contact with benzene and formaldehyde.
how many canadians have leukemia?
it is estimated that around 6,700 canadians (4,000 men and 2,700 women) will be diagnosed with leukemia in 2022 and 3,100 (1,800 men and 1,300 women) will die from the disease.
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support and resources for leukemia
both the canadian cancer society and the leukemia and lymphoma society of canada offer information about leukemia and resources to help you connect with others who share your experiences.
dave yasvinski is a toronto-based writer.
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