Blood is a unique fluid that binds all cells, organs and systems of our body into a single whole. Circulating under the skin, it carries information about all the processes occurring inside the body. As is known from anatomy school textbooks, this fluid carries the necessary substances to all parts of the body and removes decay products. What happens when it develops cancer? What are the signs of blood cancer?
In simple terms, the blood changes its composition and cannot perform its basic functions of transportation and protection. In the bone marrow, which produces its cells, there is a systemic failure. It loses the ability to generate normal leukocytes, they remain undeveloped, unable to fight foreign bodies, which leads to a sharp decrease in immunity. In addition, these cancers are aggressive, multiply very quickly, and the number of normal cells (erythrocytes, leukocytes and platelets) is constantly decreasing. Of course, such blood cannot contribute to norm althe vital activity of the organism. There is a high risk of tumors in human tissues and organs.
There are various forms of leukemia: more acute and indolent, infecting only the elderly or more children, developing in the lymph or in the blood itself. It is important not to understand the intricacies of the forms of this disease, but to familiarize yourself with the symptoms of the disease. The sooner a person pays attention to the signs of blood cancer, sounds the alarm and consults a doctor, the greater the likelihood of winning this battle.
The first symptoms of cancer are manifested in the occurrence of extremely severe fatigue and apathy, they do not go away even after a good rest. A person may experience pain in the joints and bones, appetite worsens. Reduced blood clotting and bleeding that occur without serious reasons, bruising even from the slightest blows, swollen lymph nodes should also alert.
If there are individual symptoms, we cannot immediately say that these are signs of blood cancer. But you still need to go to the doctor and get tested. The disease is diagnosed even in the early stages, since the amount of proteins in the body increases and the concentration of antigens occurs.
It should be noted that no one is immune from this disease. Doctors have identified factors that increase the risk of the disease: radiation exposure, chemotherapy, constant interaction with certain chemicals, smoking, heredity. At the same time, not all people exposed to such factorsget sick and vice versa. The disease can overtake a completely prosperous person who has nothing to do with smoking or radiation and so on.
The treatment of blood cancer is a very real procedure, which also has many varieties. As already noted, early diagnosis plays an important role. Among the methods of treatment, chemotherapy is used, as a supportive measure - blood transfusion, in critical situations - bone marrow transplantation. Scientists continue to search for ways to fight the disease and have already achieved some results.
So, blood cancer (or leukemia) is a serious disease that ultimately affects the entire body. According to the statistics of American doctors, the number of leukemia patients in recent decades, compared with he althy people, is considered as 25: 100,000 people. Be attentive to yourself. If you suspect signs of blood cancer, contact a specialist. Perhaps it will be a false alarm, and your little ailment will soon pass, or perhaps the treatment started in time will save your life.
