Leukemia is a blood cancer that accounted for 3.8% of all cancer deaths in 2020. Left untreated Leukemia can spread rapidly. Learn more about the warning signs, symptoms, and treatments of Leukemia today.

Leukemia is a cancer that affects blood-forming tissues, including bone marrow and the lymphatic system. While this cancer typically affects white blood cells, it can also develop in many other types of blood cells. Leukemia differs from other cancers because the cancerous cells circulate throughout the bloodstream instead of forming a mass or tumor. This makes early diagnosis essential to saving lives. Keep reading to learn about early warning signs of Leukemia and treatments. 

Warning Signs of Leukemia

When bone marrow produces an excessive amount of abnormal white blood cells, these leukemia cells begin to crowd normally functioning white and red blood cells and platelets. This overcrowding prevents healthy cells from performing their function, leading to cancer called "Leukemia."

Chronic Leukemia is the most common form of Leukemia in adults, and it is generally slow-growing. Because of its slow-growing nature, many people find that they have no symptoms in the early stages of Leukemia. During early-stage Leukemia, white blood cells can still function in some capacity. However, as the amount of leukemia cells slowly increases, Leukemia's signs and symptoms become more obvious. 

Chronic Leukemia can be asymptomatic for a long time, so it's most commonly diagnosed during routine check-ups or while assessing other health concerns. Typically, the first symptom of chronic Leukemia is enlarged lymph nodes. However, it's essential to note Leukemia symptoms vary based on the form of Leukemia. Common Leukemia symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Fever
• Paleness
• Unexplained weight loss
• Frequent or recurrent infections
• Enlarged liver or spleen
• Easy bruising or bleeding
• Tiny red spots (known as petechiae) on the skin
• Bone or joint pain
• Shortness of breath

Although the exact causes remain unclear, healthcare professionals generally believe Leukemia is caused by genetic mutations that lead to abnormal and accelerated cell division. Like most cancers, Leukemia appears to stem from a combination of genetic and environmental factors, including: 

• A history of smoking
• Exposure to cancer-causing chemicals, such as benzene and formaldehyde
• Genetic disorders such as Down's Syndrome, neurofibromatosis, Klinefelter Syndrome, and Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome
• History of previous cancer treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy
• A family history of Leukemia

If you're experiencing any symptoms of Leukemia, it's essential to seek advice from a healthcare professional. Prompt assessment can rule out Leukemia as the cause or help diagnose it before it spreads. 

Treatment For Leukemia

Specific treatment for Leukemia depends on the type of Leukemia you have. A Leukemia treatment plan is developed by your oncology care team. It is based upon many factors such as the form of Leukemia, response to treatment, your tolerance for treatment, and the extent of cancer. 

Other important considerations include your age, existing health conditions, family medical history, and past cancer diagnoses. Common treatment options for Leukemia include:

Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill or stop the growth of leukemia cells. As chemotherapy affects both cancer cells and healthy cells, treatment can make you feel tired, weak, or sick.

Targeted Therapy: Targeted therapy includes a group of treatments that target specific genes or molecules in the cancer cells to kill them.

Radiation: Radiation therapy utilizes beams of high energy to kill cancerous cells. Radiation is often given along with chemotherapy to help kill leukemia cells.

Bone Marrow Transplant: A bone marrow transplant (also known as a stem cell transplant) is a procedure that replaces the patient's abnormal bone marrow cells with healthy non-cancerous stem cells. These new cells help to produce more healthy bone marrow.

Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy is a group of therapies that help the body's immune system recognize and destroy leukemia cells.

Clinical trials:  Clinical trials are experimental treatments. As these treatments are experimental, they may lead to both uncertain benefits and risks. Clinical trials may be recommended when cancer does not respond to conventional treatment methods,

For most patients, a combination of chemotherapy and radiation is needed to help treat Leukemia and kill cancerous cells. This is especially true in patients with acute Leukemia, who require an aggressive treatment strategy. For more advanced cancers, bone marrow transplants continue to provide life-saving treatment for Leukemia and other blood disorders. 

Fortunately, although Leukemia is a severe disease, with early diagnosis and treatment, many patients are able to fight the disease and enjoy a high quality of life. If you or a loved one has symptoms of Leukemia, schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider today.