Leukemia

What is leukemia?

Leukemia is a type of cancer of white blood cells which occurs in cells of the body that help create blood, including cells in the lymphatic system and bone marrow. Most often, leukemia starts when mutations cause bone marrow cells to begin rapidly producing abnormal white blood cells. While normal white blood cells help your body fight infection, these abnormal white blood cells begin to crowd out healthy cells in the bone marrow and blood, causing illness. Sometimes, these abnormal cells can also accumulate in other parts of the body, causing tumors to grow.

Three common types of leukemia are:

• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), which begins in B lymphocyte cells and usually appears in older adults. According to the American Cancer Society, around one-third of leukemia cases are diagnosed as CLL.

• Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which is the most common type of leukemia in adults. AML causes the body to produce abnormal white blood cells, which overwhelm healthy blood cells.

• Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), which more commonly occurs in children and young adults. ALL usually begins in immature white blood cells called B or T lymphocytes, and can impact bone marrow, liver, spleen and lymph nodes.

What are the symptoms of leukemia?

The symptoms of leukemia can be different for every patient, and vary based on how advanced the condition is. Common symptoms can include:

• Swollen lymph nodes

• Enlarged spleen or liver

• Unexplained weight loss, night sweats or fatigue

• Easily bruising, or having trouble getting cuts to stop bleeding

• Recurring nosebleeds

• Pale skin from anemia

• Tiny red spots (petechiae) on your skin

• Bone aches

• Recurring or severe infections

How is leukemia diagnosed?

If leukemia is suspected, your blood will be drawn and tested with what’s called a Complete Blood Count, in which the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and the amount of hemoglobin in the blood are measured and other testing is done.

Bone marrow biopsy, in which physicians take a sample of bone, bone marrow and blood by inserting a needle into a bone, is examined and tested to check for the presence of cancer and establish a diagnosis.

Call 949-722-6237 to schedule an appointment or request a second opinion consultation with our leukemia specialists.

What are treatment options for leukemia?

Treatment options for leukemia depend on many factors, including how advanced the cancer is when detected and any other health issues you may have. Treatments for leukemia vary from patient to patient, but may include:

• Chemotherapy:

  which uses cytotoxic drugs to target cancerous cells

• Targeted therapy:

  which uses drugs that target specific traits of the cancerous cells you have

• Allogeneic stem cell transplant:

  bone marrow transplant from a donor

Supportive care for Leukemia and Survivorship support

At Hoag Family Cancer Institute, we’re committed to offering the best support services, resources and educational information to our patients and their families at every stage of their cancer journey. Hoag’s Integrated Cancer Support Services are open to everyone regardless of their prognosis, cancer stage or phase of recovery.

Resources include:

• Classes & Workshops

• Counseling Services

• Brighter Image Program

• Support Groups

• Hoag Rehabilitation Services

• Spiritual Care Services

• Oncology Massage

• Oncology Nutrition

• Financial Navigators for cancer-related care

Find more information about Integrated Cancer Support Services at Hoag at this link.

Are there clinical trials for Leukemia?

Yes, Hoag is committed to leading the way in state-of-the-art technologies and advanced treatment options. Part of this commitment includes clinical research with the goal of helping patients live longer, healthier lives. Through carefully-planned clinical trials, researchers evaluate the safety and effectiveness of new ways to diagnose, treat and prevent diseases or conditions. Treatments studied in clinical trials might be new drugs or new combinations of drugs, new surgical procedures or devices, or new ways to use existing treatments. View clinical trials for hematologic cancers here.

At Hoag, our clinical research team is committed to excellence in research and protecting the interests and well-being of patients. Contact us at (949) 536-7332 to see if joining a clinical trial is right for you.