Leukemia, or otherwise leukemia, is a disease of hematopoietic tissues when tumor tissues replace natural germs that occur during the development of blood, in the process of bone marrow damage. Previously, the disease was called leukemia.
Leukocytes are white blood cells that protect our body in a specific and non-specific way from the influence of external and internal pathogenic agents. Formed in the tissues of the bone marrow, leukocytes are sent to the blood, but in the process of constant production, they are not fully matured. These white blood cells are called blasts. Due to their inferiority, they are not able to withstand viral and bacterial attacks. Blasts are found during bone marrow examinations.
Leukemia is a disease, the treatment of which is mainly aimed at stopping the development of blasts, and after their complete destruction - to exclude the possibility of them getting into the bloodstream. The result of an unsuccessful struggle during this very difficult process, in the presence of at least one unextracted or undestroyed blast from the blood, will inevitably be the beginningre-illness.
For the prevention of leukemia, it is necessary to take a general blood test once a year and be interested in the leukoformula (the percentage of varieties and the total number of blood leukocytes). If the tests were preceded by illness, you need to postpone their delivery for a month so that the results are objective, blood counts may change.
Bone marrow and blood tests make it possible to diagnose "leukemia". The causes of leukemia have not yet been clarified by science; hypothetically, the manifestations of the disease are observed in people with a predisposition to it. Diseases of a viral or infectious nature, exposure to radiation, exposure to chemicals - all these factors can lead to a condition of the body called "leukemia". This disease is of two types: acute and chronic.
Acute leukemia
Signs of an acute disease: severe vomiting, nausea, general weakness of the body, pain in the joints and bones, lack of appetite, body temperature above normal. During the period of illness, there is an increase in internal organs, there is increased bleeding. Along the way, the course of any infectious disease is possible. The manifestation of an acute form of leukemia occurs suddenly. In case of ignoring the symptoms that have appeared and not providing treatment on time, there is a threat of death of the sick person.
Chronic leukemia
Signs of a chronic diseasealso manifested in the form of lack of appetite, weakness, fatigue. Also characteristic are persistent diseases of an infectious type, bleeding, an increase in the size of the spleen, lymph nodes and liver. Chronic leukemia is found most often in the process of identifying other diseases. In this form, periods of exacerbation and remission can repeatedly replace each other. With a timely diagnosis and treatment measures taken, it is possible to stop the disease of leukemia. This chronic phenomenon can otherwise turn into a more dangerous form. The disease of leukemia of the elderly has practically no effect on their life expectancy.
The main research method for leukemia is bone marrow puncture. With its help, the diagnosis is confirmed and the type of leukemia is identified (possible options: morphological, immunophenotopic, cytogenetic).
In acute leukemia, a myelogram is performed (the number of all cell forms is determined in the bone marrow), cytochemical studies (specific blast enzymes are detected).
Mankind hopes that in the near future doctors will be able to determine why leukemia appears. The causes of the disease, clearly established, will be able to give rise to the creation of new drugs, and the terrible diagnosis will no longer be able to frighten anyone.
