Leukaemia
- Created by: chloe.baker
- Created on: 11-04-14 10:22
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- Leukaemia
- What is it?
- Leukaemia is cancer of the blood cells
- It starts in the bone marrow, the soft tissue inside most bones.
- Bone marrow is where blood cells are made
- When you healthy your bone marrow makes:
- White blood cells, which help your body fight infection.
- Red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all parts of your body.
- Platelets, which help your blood clot.
- When you have leukaemia the bone marrow starts to make abnormal white blood cells called leukaemia cells
- They don't do the work of normal white blood cells, they grow faster than normal cells and they don't stop growing when they should.
- Over time leukaemia cells can crowd out the normal blood cells.
- This can lead to serious problems such as anaemia, bleeding and infections.
- Leukaemia cells can also spread to the lymph nodes and other organs and cause swelling and pain.
- This can lead to serious problems such as anaemia, bleeding and infections.
- Over time leukaemia cells can crowd out the normal blood cells.
- They don't do the work of normal white blood cells, they grow faster than normal cells and they don't stop growing when they should.
- Types
- Acute leukaemia
- Acute leukaemia gets worse very fast and make you feel sick right away
- Lymphocytic leukaemia affects whit blood cells called lymphocytes.
- Myelogenous leukaemia affects white blood cells called myelocytes.
- Chronic leukaemia
- Chronic leukaemia gets worse slowly and may not cause symptoms for years
- Lymphocytic leukaemia affects whit blood cells called lymphocytes.
- Myelogenous leukaemia affects white blood cells called myelocytes.
- Four main types:
- Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)
- Most common in children
- Acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML)
- Most common in adults
- Can also affect children.
- Chronic lymphoblastic leukaemia (CLL)
- Most common in adults
- Chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML)
- Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)
- Acute leukaemia
- Causes and risks
- Risk:Were exposed to large amounts of radiation
- Risk: were exposed to certain chemicals at work, such as benzene.
- Risk: had previous chemotherapy to treat another cancer.
- Risk:Have down syndrome or some other genetic problems
- Risk: smoke
- Symptoms
- Fever and night sweats
- Headaches
- Bruising or bleeding easily
- Bone or joint pain
- A swollen or painful stomach due to enlarged spleen
- Swollen lymph nodes in the armpit, neck or groin
- Getting a lot of infections
- Feeling very tired or weak.
- Losing weight and not feeling hungry
- Diagnosis by GP
- Ask questions about past health and symptoms
- Look for swollen lymph nodes and check to see if your liver or spleen is enlarged
- Blood tests
- If normal do a bone marrow biopsy
- Look at cells from inside your bone.
- If normal do a bone marrow biopsy
- Treatment
- Acute leukaemia
- quick treatment to stop rapid growth
- Makes leukaemia go into remission
- quick treatment to stop rapid growth
- Chronic leukaemia
- Rarely cured but can be controlled
- Chronic lymphocytic
- No need for treatment until symptoms
- Chronic myelogenous
- Treated right away
- Acute leukaemia
- What is it?
- When you healthy your bone marrow makes:
- White blood cells, which help your body fight infection.
- Red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all parts of your body.
- Platelets, which help your blood clot.
- Chronic leukaemia gets worse slowly and may not cause symptoms for years
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