Leukemia is a form of Cancer that begins in the tissue that generates blood for the body. Leukemia turns a person's bone marrow against them, altering it to produce
abnormal white blood cells. These cells are called Leukemia cells, and their presence makes it challenging for normal blood cells to function properly. This lack of
proper functioning is where many of the health harms of Leukemia come from.
In order to grasp a thorough understanding of what living with Leukemia entails, we must first analyze the symptoms that spawn from it. Early identification of these
symptoms is essential in terms of ensuring that the problem is dealt with effectively. While none of these symptoms are cause for significant alarm when isolated, the accumulation
of many of them can be indiciative of the early stages of Leukemia.
To provide a non-exhaustive list, symptoms include: fatigue, fevers, chills, cold sweats, frequent infections,
easy bruising, and weight loss. These symptoms can make everyday tasks such as walking around or enjoying a meal incredibly difficult to accomplish, especially when one factors in the
side-effects that treatement may have on an individual.
Due to the slow-moving nature of Leukemia, many do not register the symptoms as being significant right away. This means that they do not interpret these symptoms as being cancerous,
which can lead to dangerous consequences in the long term. With every passing day comes another opportunity for the person's body to generate more dangerous white blood cells. As a result
of this, an additional danger of Leukemia lies within its tendancy to remain undiscovered until after the body has produced enough cells to disturb the natural balance of white and red
blood cells.
Myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells in bone marrow. Individuals with this disease suffer from a disorderly production of unhealthy plasma cells that fill up the bone marrow, thus
disrupting the production of normal blood cells. This, in many cases, leads to an overabundance of plasma cells which damages the bone itself, which results in an excess of pain and
potential bone fractures. Myeloma is a fairly common form of blood cancer, as approximately 60,000 people in the United States currently have the disease, with another 20,000 cases
being diagnosed each year.
While the symptoms of Myeloma may be absent at first, they ultimately develop as plasma cells build up. The relatively lengthy period between contracting the disease and becoming
disaserously symptomatic is one of the more dangerous aspects of Myeloma, as it means that early diagnosal can often prove to be difficult.
In adherance to the sometimes difficult nature of identifiying Myeloma, many symptoms of the disease remain dormant until things have progressed to the point of being potentially
dangerous. These symptoms can involve bone pain, weakness, diziness, bruising, or excessive confusion.
Lymphoma is a form of Cancer begins in immune calls called lymphocytes. It is a relatively common form of cancer. In fact, an estimated 730,000+ individuals in the United States have, or are in remision from, Lymphoma. It specifically targets the immune system, something which often has the
effect of making the inflicted person
especially vulnerable to viruses and other external conditions.
It is sometimes compared to Leukemia in that it also results from issues with white blood cells. However, the symptoms of Lymphoma are often more visible than Leukemia. For instance,
Lymphoma is often associated with swollen lymph nodes in the armpits, neck, or groin of an individual. It can also result in chest pain, coughing, difficulties with breathing, sweats, and
rapid weight loss.
Due to the physical nature of many Lymphoma symptoms, the potential for early identification of the disease is greater when compared with Leukemia. Early identification tests performed
by a doctor involve the stimulation of lymph nodes and tests to verfify if they are swollen. While swollen lymph nodes are often indicative of infections, such findings will often
prompt further investigations which can lead to the early identification of Lymphoma, something that is essential in terms of ensuring the option of pursuing aggressive treatement.
This is a field that has, even in just the past two years, exploded with activity. These types of improvements allow doctors to "teach" a patient's cells to seek out and destroy cancerous cells. This can act as a welcome supplement to more aggressive forms of treatment, as it provides another avenue upon which cancer can be attacked, thus resulting in the long term safety and security of patients that may have struggled in the past.
A 2014 study titled
Efficacy and Toxicity Management if 19-28z CAR T Cell Therapy in B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia unveiled some of the improvments that have been made in this field over the past few years. The study built on
information gathered in the original 2013 analysis and experimented with innovative new methods of treatment, taking care to specifically discover and detail alternatives to stem cell transplants. Their findings were incredibly encouraging, with 88 percent of the involved patients responding positively to the treatment. All of the most common side effects, while unpleasant, were ultimately completely treatable and did not affect the patients in the long term.
Additionally, a study titled Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells for Sustained Remissions in Leukemia attempted to reprogram blood cells to seek out and destroy cancerous cells before infusing back into the general bloodstream. The treatment led to complete remissions in 90 percent of the patients involved. All of these patients had failed to respond to conventional treatments, and some had relapsed several times before. This treatment, for many of the patients, was the only source of hope that they had encountered in years. While unintended side effects hampered some patients, the scientists remain optimistic that these early difficulties can and will be resolved. In fact, lead researcher Carl June suggests that the versatile methods used in the study could prove valuable in treating other forms of cancer, such as cancer of the pancreas or lungs.
Chemotherapy is, simply put, the use of drugs to eliminate dangerous cancer cells. A negative stigma has been attached to Chemotherapy in years past due to the harmful side effects that this type of treatement has been known to sometimes generate. However, recent years have brought with them innovations that have made these drugs not only more comfortable to experience, but also more effective in targeting the specific cells that must be removed from the body.
Modern Chemotherapy drugs have been engineered to attack specific targets on cancer cells in an effort to increase effectiveness while minimizing adverse health effects. To do this, doctors attach special proteins to the drugs which allow them to be guided directly to the cancer cells. This means that the chemotherapy drugs are more effective in striking at the root of the problem whilst also decreasing the number of non-cancer cells effected.
One of the most innovative improvements to Chemotherapy has been achieved through the use of a technique in which the drug is packaged inside a liposome. This allows the drug to actively degraded specifically in the tumor tissue, thus minimising the risk of side effects such as nausea and hair loss.
Founded over 65 years ago, the Leukemia and Lymphoma society has long since established itself as one of the most reputable authorities in terms of Blood Cancer research. Their goals are threefold: to cure Blood Cancers, to improve the quality of life for patients and their families, and to promote general knowledge in regards to these terrible diseases.
They are accredited with the Better Business Bureau, and meet all 20 standards for charitable accountability. This means that not only are all allocations funds accounted for and visible to the public, but those who donate can rest assured that their money is being spent in a responsible manner that is consistant with the intent of furthering Blood Cancer research.
Simply put, their interests are aligned those who struggle with these diseases everyday. They seek to save these innocent lives, and thus every dollar donated to this organization serves as a weapon that can and will be applied against Blood Cancers. You can join this fight by clicking on the donate button below.
The Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research is a UK based organization dedicated to the elimination of Blood Cancers. Their mission is simple: to minimize the deaths resulting from these impactful diseases as well as utilizing the precise application of research to prevent people from developing Blood Cancer in the first place.
They have been hard at work for more than 50 years, and thus have established themselves as a powerful player in the field for years to come. They routinely sponsor events such as the Blenheim Triathlon that raise both awareness and funds for blood Cancer research. You can join them in their fight by clicking on the button below to donate.
With recent advancements in online communications, it is now possible to join the fight against Blood Cancers without spending a single penny. This is the power of word of mouth, the power of sharing our thoughts and ideas to make a change. You can click on the buttons below to get started. Spread the word!