Recognizing the Early Signs
Blood cancers, such as leukemia, often begin with subtle signs that can easily be mistaken for common ailments. It’s only when these signs persist or worsen that individuals may suspect something more serious. One such blood cancer is acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), a type of cancer found in the blood and bone marrow that affects white blood cells called lymphocytes. This disease progresses rapidly, forming immature blood cells that invade and eventually outnumber the mature ones.
ALL is the most common type of cancer in children and has a very high chance of being cured. It can also occur in adults, but even with treatment, the chance of a cure is greatly reduced. The journey to an acute lymphocytic leukemia diagnosis often begins with recognizing the symptoms.
Understanding the Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of acute lymphocytic leukemia may include bleeding, such as frequent nosebleeds and bleeding from the gums, bone or joint pain, fever, frequent infections, swollen lymph nodes in and around the neck, armpits, abdomen or groin, pale skin, shortness of breath, weakness, and fatigue. These symptoms can be vague and may resemble those of other common illnesses, making early diagnosis challenging.
However, if these symptoms persist or worsen over time, it’s crucial to seek medical attention. A healthcare professional can conduct a thorough evaluation and order necessary tests to determine the cause of these symptoms.
Unraveling the Causes
Acute lymphocytic leukemia occurs when there’s a change in the DNA of the bone marrow cells. Normally, DNA instructs cells when to grow and when to die. But in acute lymphocytic leukemia, these instructions get disrupted, causing the bone marrow cells to continue growing and dividing.
As a result, there’s a problem with blood cell production, and the bone marrow produces immature cells that develop into leukemic blood cells, or lymphoblasts. These abnormal cells are unable to function properly and crowd out the healthy cells, leading to the symptoms associated with leukemia.
Identifying the Risk Factors
Certain factors can increase the risk of developing acute lymphocytic leukemia. These include previous treatment with specific types of chemotherapy, exposure to very high levels of radiation, and certain genetic disorders, especially Down’s Syndrome.
While these risk factors can increase the likelihood of developing acute lymphocytic leukemia, it’s important to remember that having one or more risk factors does not guarantee that you will develop the disease. Regular check-ups and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help detect any abnormalities early and ensure prompt treatment.
From Diagnosis to Treatment
A patient exhibiting symptoms of acute lymphocytic leukemia will undergo a physical examination for swollen glands, and a blood sample will be taken. If the sample proves to have an abnormally high level of white blood cells, it could be a sign of acute leukemia, and the patient will be referred to a hematologist. The hematologist will take a small sample of the patient’s bone marrow to examine under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis.
As this form of leukemia is an aggressive disease that can progress quickly, treatment generally begins within a few days of diagnosis and is usually done in three stages. The first stage is remission induction, which aims to kill the leukemia cells in the bone marrow and restore the balance of red and white blood cells. The second stage is consolidation, which focuses on killing any remaining leukemia cells in the body. The final stage is maintenance, which consists of regular chemotherapy treatments to prevent the leukemia from returning.
