An explanation of leukemia(blood cancer), its causes, types, symptoms and how to treat it with some pictures

1. BLOOD CANCER
BY; Mustafa Asaad Hameed
The Supervision; ENG. Khaldun
Ibn Sina College Of Medical
And Pharmaceutical Science

2. What are blood cancers ?
Blood cancer, also known as leukemia, is one of the types of
cancers that affect the formation of blood cells and the lymphatic
system. According to statistics, it is ranked the ninth in terms of the
most common cancers in the United States, accounting for only
3.7% of all cancer cases That were recently diagnosed, and it
should be noted that more than 50% of leukemia cases affect
people over the age of 50, and the number of men with this cancer
is twice the number of women.

3. Cause of cancer of blood
Leukemia occurred as a result of DNA damage to immature blood cells,
especially white cells, as this leads to continued growth and division of blood
cells, and thus obtaining large numbers of them. It should be noted that
abnormal blood cells do not die as they are The situation in healthy blood cells
that die after a period of time, to replace them with new cells that are
produced in the bone marrow, and instead it continues to increase and
accumulate, in addition to occupying a larger area, and it should be noted that
the continued production of more cancer cells leads to limiting the growth of
cells Healthy white blood and its ability to function normally; Because cancer
cells occupy a large area of blood

4. Leukemia risk factors
 Many factors contribute to an increase in the risk of developing leukemia, and here comes a
statement for the most prominent of them:
 1- Undergoing cancer treatments in the past: The risk of developing leukemia increases if a
person is exposed to certain types of chemotherapy and radiation.
 2-Genetic disorders: Some genetic anomalies play a role in the development of leukemia, such
as: Down Syndrome.

5. Leukemia risk factors
3-Exposure to some chemicals, such as: benzene.
4- Smoking, as it contributes to an increased risk of some types of leukemia, especially acute
myelogenous leukemia
5-Having a family history of leukemia: As a family member has leukemia, the person increases
the risk of this disease

6. Symptoms of leukemia
 The patient may not complain of any symptoms in the early stages of the disease, and in
general the symptoms of leukemia can be described as follows:
1- Anemia: This is represented by the presence of a number of red blood cells less than normal,
so this slows the arrival of Oxygen to the body’s organs and muscles, which causes pale skin,
easy fatigue, and low energy.

 2-Bruising or bleeding occurs easily: these patients may suffer from bleeding gums or nose,
or they may notice blood in the stool or urine, and in many cases the bruises may develop
from very simple bumps, in addition to the possibility of small patches of different color
under the skin.
 .

7. Symptoms of Leukemia
 3- Vulnerability to infection: As leukemia affects the body's anti-infection cells, this causes the
development of different types of infections, such as: sore throat, or bronchopulmonary
inflammation. The infection results in suffering from several symptoms, such as: headache, or
low-grade fever Mouth ulcers, or rash.
 4- Swollen lymph nodes: abnormal lymphocytes may accumulate in the lymph nodes in the
throat, armpit, or groin, causing it to swell. Loss of health in general: This is represented by loss of
appetite and weight,
 5-feeling uncomfortable in the area under the lower left ribs, and feeling weak or tired all the
time, and some may experience night sweats, or fever that lasts for more than one to two weeks

8. Types of leukemia
Types of leukemia can be described as follows : The most common types: which include the
following:
1-Acute myelogenous leukemia, and represents the most common form of leukemia and may
develop in children and adults, according to the statistics of the United States About 21,000 new
cases of this type are diagnosed annually.
2-Acute lymphocytic leukemia, as it develops mostly in children, and according to statistics,
about 6000 new cases of this type are diagnosed annually.

9. Types of Leukemia
3-Chronic myelogenous leukemia, as it mostly affects adults, and about 9,000 new cases of this
year are diagnosed. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and this disease is rare in children. The
number of cases diagnosed annually is estimated at about 20 thousand cases
-
-4 Chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and this disease rarely appears in children. The number of
cases diagnosed annually is estimated at about 20 thousand cases.

10. Type of Leukemia
 Less common types: Which can be described as follows
 Downy leukemia (English: Hairy cell), and represents one of the chronic, uncommon types.
 Chronic myelogenous leukemia (Chronic Myelomonocytic) represents a chronic blood
cancer that develops from the blood marrow cells.
 Juvenile myeloid leukemia, it is a form of myelogenous leukemia that usually develops in
children under six years of age.
 Large granular lymphocytic lymphoma, which is one of the chronic types that develop from
lymphocytes, may be slow, or fast growing.
 Acute Promyelocytic Precursor Bleaching, an acute subtype of acute myeloid leukemia.
Treatment

11. Treating leukemia The treatment of leukemia includes a
number of methods, and the following is explained:
 For chemotherapy: This includes the use of anti-cancer drugs; In order to destroy all cancer
cells, and to limit their growth and reproduction, taking into account the necessity that
damage to normal cells be minimal, it should be noted that these drugs are available in the
form of intravenous injection, subcutaneous injection, or oral tablets.

 Stem cell transplantation: As this allows higher doses of chemotherapy to be used in some
cases, it also increases the chances of recovery, and despite its benefits, this procedure is
considered stressful except for being risky.


12. Treating leukemia The treatment of leukemia
 Radiation therapy: depends on the use of high-energy X-rays; The goal is to
eliminate leukemia cells, or prevent them from growing. Biologic therapy:
This treatment helps the immune system to find and attack cancer cells.
 Targeted therapy: This involves the use of medications to prevent specific
genes or proteins that cancer cells need to grow.

13. Treating leukemia The treatment of leukemia
 Surgery: As the doctor removes the spleen in cases where it is filled with cancerous cells,
causing pressure on the organs near it