Leukemia and leukemia: what's the difference? Causes, diagnosis and treatment

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Leukemia and leukemia: what's the difference? Causes, diagnosis and treatment
Leukemia and leukemia: what's the difference? Causes, diagnosis and treatment

Video: Leukemia and leukemia: what's the difference? Causes, diagnosis and treatment

Video: Leukemia and leukemia: what's the difference? Causes, diagnosis and treatment
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Oncological diseases include the appearance and development of tumors that can be located in any part of the body. In addition, they have a different histological structure.

It is important to recall that at present such diseases have significantly "rejuvenated" and are truly epidemic. In our article, we will take a closer look at leukemia and leukemia: what is the difference, causes and symptoms of diseases.

Generally speaking, oncological diseases are expressed in the appearance of benign and malignant neoplasms. However, modern practical oncology specializes more in the treatment of the latter.

Leukemia or leukemia?

What is the difference
What is the difference

Both diseases are pathologies of the bone marrow of a tumor nature. Often people have a question, is leukemia and leukemia the same thing? They differ in the presence of a malignant progressive course. Diseases occur at any age, but most often affects children, as well as older adults.

About leukemia

It is worth noting that with this disease suffersinitially in the bone marrow, as a result of which the formation of blood cells is disrupted. One of the most common types of pathology is considered to be acute lymphoblastic leukemia. According to WHO medical statistics, this disease occurs mainly in children aged two to five years.

About leukemia

The term in translation means "leukemia", which directly reflects the morphological nature of the pathology. Leukemia is a cancer in which cells in the bone marrow can mutate to become cancerous. The difference between leukemia and leukemia in humans is that in the second variant of oncology, a tumor is formed in one place. But at the same time, cancer cells can be present in the blood and bone marrow, sometimes also in the lymph nodes. That is, in different places in the body. Today, leukemia is considered the most common type of cancer in children.

Causes of leukemia

Causes of leukemia and leukemia
Causes of leukemia and leukemia

Before determining the difference between leukemia and leukemia, it is worth considering these two types of disease separately. So, the causes of leukemia can be divided into four groups:

  1. Infectious-viral lesions of the body, due to which, under the influence of a virus, a he althy cell can be transformed into an atypical one.
  2. Influence of the factor of heredity.
  3. The action of chemicals, for example, household chemicals, all kinds of synthetic substances that are often used in the manufacture of household items. This risk group includes cytostatic drugs, especially duringuncontrolled self-medication.
  4. Direct radiation exposure.

Serve as a basis for the development of leukemia can:

  • effect of radiation, especially if it was prolonged;
  • a disease that is associated with chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome.

What is the difference between leukemia and leukemia, if we talk about the root causes? The development of oncology is influenced by bad habits, in particular, smoking. Do not discount the hereditary factor, as well as prolonged contact with toxic substances.

Symptomatics

Symptoms of blood cancer
Symptoms of blood cancer

In fact, leukemia starts suddenly. Initially, the patient develops weakness for no reason, feeling unwell, shortness of breath, headaches and dizziness, acute intoxication, increased body temperature. There may also be an increase in lymph nodes, spleen and liver. Depending on the type of leukemia, symptoms may vary slightly.

Common symptoms of chronic or acute leukemia include swollen lymph nodes, mainly in the armpits. Symptoms are not accompanied by painful sensations.

With leukemia, the patient has a sharp increase in fatigue, high body temperature, pain in muscles and joints. In addition, there is weakness for no reason, nosebleeds and bleeding gums. The patient may complain of the frequent occurrence of foci of herpes. Bronchitis and pneumonia occur.

Reviewing the symptoms of leukemia and leukemia,you can find a lot in common. In both cases, there is an increase in the spleen and liver. This condition is accompanied by a feeling of heaviness in the region of the left or right hypochondrium. Against the background of intoxication of the body and an increase in cancer cells, vomiting, nausea, confusion, and even shortness of breath occur. Common signs of leukemia and leukemia are:

  • headaches;
  • discoordination in space;
  • decrease in visual acuity;
  • spasms and convulsions;
  • soft tissue swelling;
  • pain in the scrotum in men.

Clinical symptoms of leukemia do not necessarily indicate the presence of blood cancer. It is most correct to talk about the disease only after a series of microscopic and immunohistochemical examinations.

Diagnosis

Determination of the nature of the tumor
Determination of the nature of the tumor

Oncologists initially conduct a visual examination of the patient. The patient must also pass the following tests:

  • general and biochemical blood tests;
  • bone marrow study;
  • special immunological study.

In addition, with leukemia, a cytogenetic examination is carried out, as well as a molecular genetic study, which will reveal the stage of development of the disease. Additionally, doctors prescribe an analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid to determine tumor cells in it.

To diagnose leukemia, a complete blood count and bone marrow puncture are performed. In severe cases, additional biochemical diagnostics is required, which allowsdetermine the nature of the tumor.

What is the difference between leukemia and leukemia in terms of diagnosis? Of course, in both cases, oncologists prescribe an examination and a blood test. In-depth tests can be used to make an accurate diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment of blood cancer
Treatment of blood cancer

For the treatment of leukemia, a complex technique is used. Depending on the form of the disease, the tactics of treatment varies. The patient needs chemotherapy, special care, a positive psychological atmosphere. In the drug therapy of leukemia, antitumor drugs are used, such as: Prednisolone, Mercaptopurine, Dopan or Myelobromol. The main treatments for leukemia are:

  • chemotherapy;
  • radiotherapy or radiotherapy;
  • stem cell transplant.

During the medical treatment of leukemia, drugs such as Prednisone, Methotrexate-Ebewe, Daunorubicin or L-asparaginase are used. As you can see, the approach to the treatment of these diseases varies.

The difference between leukemia and leukemia

difference between leukemia and leukemia
difference between leukemia and leukemia

In medical practice, the terms "leukemia" and "leukemia" are often considered synonymous words. Both forms of a deadly disease are often called blood cancer. However, what is the difference between leukemia and leukemia?

A significant difference still exists. With leukemia, a systemic generalization of the process occurs. Leukemia affects the lymphoid tissues.

The last stage of oncological diseases are metastases,that appear in the bone marrow. If pathology is ignored, the outcome of the process is the death of the patient. To prevent this, immediately after the detection of cancer cells, doctors prescribe chemotherapy. This treatment should block the formation and destroy the oncological germs.

Leukemia affects the bone marrow for the second time. With leukemia, it is in it that the primary development of the disease occurs. What is the difference between leukemia and leukemia? In the primary focus of pathology formation.

The source of leukemia is one cell that has mutated into cancer. Until today, the cause of this process has not been determined, due to which the disease is not always curable.

Important nuance

How is leukemia different from leukemia
How is leukemia different from leukemia

What is the difference between leukemia and leukemia? A characteristic feature of leukemia is that in this disease the formation of a local malignant tumor does not occur, as in the case of other malignant diseases. With the bloodstream, cancer cells spread throughout the body, affecting the most important internal organs and systems.

Regardless of what disease was diagnosed, leukemia or leukemia, they require urgent complex treatment. Only on its timeliness depends on how favorable the outcome of the treatment process will be. According to oncologists, the sooner therapy is started, the higher the chances of recovery. Despite many arguments that these diseases differ, some doctors consider leukemia and leukemia to be synonymous. Regardless of what disputes are ongoing, these pathologies shouldundergo not only a long examination, but also high-quality treatment.

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