Is leukemia cancer?

Written by Li Fang Fang
Hematology
Updated on September 14, 2024
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Leukemia is a cancer of the blood system. Based on the maturity of the tumor cells, leukemia can be divided into acute leukemia and chronic leukemia. Acute leukemia is further divided into acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia, while chronic leukemia is divided into chronic granulocytic leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. As the name suggests, acute leukemia has a rapid onset, a shorter survival period, and treatment is more challenging. Chronic leukemia, on the other hand, has a slower onset, a relatively longer survival period, and the treatment results are comparatively better.

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Written by Li Fang Fang
Hematology
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How is acute leukemia treated?

The treatment for acute leukemia is chemotherapy. Chemotherapy can be administered orally or intravenously, and the choice between oral or intravenous chemotherapy depends on the type of acute leukemia. For patients with acute leukemia, if chemotherapy alone can effectively control the disease or achieve a cure, then there is no need for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. However, if chemotherapy alone cannot control the disease, and the patient is considered at high risk and of suitable age, then allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation should be considered.

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Is leukemia treatment free?

Leukemia is a type of malignant tumor originating from hematopoietic stem cells and progenitor cells in the myeloid hematopoietic system. Leukemia cells differentiate and organize at the early stages of different myeloid developments, exhibiting the morphological and immunophenotypic characteristics of myeloid development. The incidence of acute myeloid leukemia in the population is 2-4/100,000, with the median age of onset being sixty-four to seventy years, making it a disease of the elderly. The incidence increases with age, accounting for 70% of acute leukemias, and representing 55%-70% of infant, 17%-20% of childhood, and 80%-90% of adult acute leukemias. Regarding the medical insurance situation in China, some leukemia conditions are eligible for major illness assistance. All leukemia treatments can be reimbursed at a certain ratio under the national health insurance, although there is no free treatment for leukemia at present, unless one participates in relevant clinical trials, which could offer some compensation, and certain treatment drugs are provided free of charge.

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Hematology
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How to test for leukemia?

Patients with leukemia should first undergo a routine blood test. Some leukemia patients' routine blood tests may indicate leukemia, such as when white blood cell counts are abnormally high, exceeding 50*10^9/L, and can even reach more than 100*10^9/L, which highly suggests leukemia. At this point, bone marrow biopsy, bone marrow immunotyping, and chromosome tests are needed to further clarify the type of leukemia. In addition, risk stratification in leukemia patients is also necessary through genetic mutations and chromosome analysis.

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Symptoms of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

Most cases of chronic granulocytic leukemia are due to abnormal enlargement of the spleen, leading to abdominal distension and poor appetite. A small portion of chronic granulocytic leukemia cases show no obvious symptoms and are only discovered through routine physical examinations, finding an abnormal increase in white blood cells, leading to diagnosis and treatment in the hematology department. Common clinical symptoms of chronic granulocytic leukemia include an enlarged spleen. Additionally, some patients may also experience fatigue due to anemia, and a very few patients seek medical advice due to bleeding caused by a decrease in platelets.

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Written by Li Fang Fang
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What are the symptoms of leukemia?

The symptoms of leukemia mainly fall into four categories: infections, anemia, bleeding, and tumor infiltration. Infections occur because the proliferation of leukemia cells leads to a reduction in the patient's own granulocytes, lowering their resistance and possibly leading to various secondary infections such as respiratory, urinary system, and skin mucous membrane infections. Anemia is due to the proliferation of leukemia cells, which restricts normal erythropoiesis in the bone marrow, leading to symptoms in patients such as dizziness, headaches, fatigue, and decreased stamina. Bleeding occurs due to a decrease in platelets, posing a risk of spontaneous bleeding, which can include bleeding of the skin mucous membranes, organs, and even cerebral hemorrhage. Tumor infiltration by leukemia cells may manifest as tumor masses on the skin surface.