Leukemia Treatment

Leukemia is a blood cancer, which is rare for men and women. It occurs when the amount of abnormal white blood cells are increased in the bone marrow. These cells do not function properly and create trouble in fighting with infection and other health issues. This problem mainly develops in acute or chronic form. It can cause symptoms like fatigue, fever etc. 

The treatment of this problem is essential for individuals. It can be possible by killing or destroying the abnormal cells in the body. A hematologist uses chemotherapy drugs or high-energy beams for the operation. He or she may also perform immunotherapy and targeted therapy in the healthcare department. A bone marrow transplant is recommended for patients in certain conditions. 

Types of Leukemia

This cancer is of two types. These are as follows:

• Myeloid leukemia: It occurs due to the growth and development of myeloid cells in the bone marrow. This type of problem becomes severe if it is left untreated. 
• Lymphocytic leukemia: This problem happens when the lymphoid cells appear in the bone marrow. They grow slowly and become dangerous for adults, older adults and children. 

Causes 

The exact cause of leukemia will depend on several risk factors. These are as follows:

• Smoking: A person will suffer from this problem, if he or she smokes cigarettes or tobacco products. 
• Gender: Leukemia problem mostly affects males than females. 
• Environmental exposure: When people are working in the factory with certain chemicals, then they may have a higher risk of leukemia. 
• Age: Leukemia occurs at any age. It is a rare and aggressive problem for people who lie between 65 and 74 years of age. 

Symptoms 

The symptoms of this health problem are as follows: 

• Bone pain or tenderness
• Swelling in lymph nodes
• Nose bleeding
• Petechiae
• Excessive sweating
• Fever or chills
• Unexplained weight loss
• Bruising
• Severe or frequent infections
• Weakness or fatigue
• Headache

Procedure 

Before Procedure

The following things can be expected before the surgery. These are as follows:

• An application form will be given to a patient in the healthcare department. The form must be filled before the surgical procedure. 
• A healthcare professional will review the medical history to check the patient’s overall health. He or she will perform a physical exam for the identification of leukemia symptoms in male and female patients.  
• A medical doctor performs a blood test or takes blood samples to identify the presence of leukemia in red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. 
• Some imaging tests are conducted to determine the type of leukemia disease. They are also recommended for managing infection and other health problems in individuals. 
• A bone marrow biopsy test will be performed to check the amount of abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow. 
• A spinal tap test is performed by taking a sample of cerebrospinal fluid to check for leukemia cancer. 

During Procedure

The following things can happen in the medical center. These are as follows:

• An intravenous injection or a chemotherapy drug will be given to a patient in the healthcare department. 
• The high-energy beams are used to target cancer cells or destroy leukemia cells in male and female patients. 
• Immunotherapy or targeted therapy drugs are used to increase the power of the immune system, which helps to destroy cancer cells easily. It may be cytokine, monoclonal antibody or checkpoint inhibitor. 
• A bone marrow transplant is performed by replacing a damaged bone marrow with a healthy one. 

After Procedure

A patient is suggested to spend a few days in the healthcare department. He or she will be taken into the recovery room for the identification of the vital signs and a patient’s overall health. 

A healthcare professional provides some important instructions to an individuals in which they must follow after the surgical procedure:

• Quit smoking and alcohol.
• Avoid exposure to certain chemicals like benzene, formaldehyde etc. 
• Follow a proper nutrition diet and drink plenty of water.
• Wash your hands daily. 
• Wear protective clothes and apply sunscreen when going outside. 
• Attend all scheduled appointments in the healthcare center. 
• Avoid spending time with people who are sick.