All Blood Tests

Blood has several components like-red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma -and the cells of the blood are produced at the bone marrow. When the cells of the blood grow abnormally, it is called blood cancer or leukaemia. The whole system of production of blood cells is a controlled activity and when cancer occurs in the bone marrow, it affects the process of regulation of cell production. The abnormal growth of the blood cells weakens the body’s defence mechanism. There are two types of blood cancer-acute leukaemia and chronic leukaemia.

Acute leukemia:

Acute leukemia is a type of blood cancer in which the cells develop rapidly. The immature white blood cells gather in and consequently enter the other different parts of the body. Depending on the affection of white blood cell type, in clinical terms acute leukaemia is called either acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) or acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). The symptoms of acute leukaemia are

Generalized weakness and fatigue (this may be due to anaemia)
Fever
Weight loss
Frequent infections
Excessive bruising
Bleeding (of the gums or nose)
Blood in the urine or stools
Pain in the bones and joints
Breathlessness (can be due to anaemia)
Enlarged lymph glands, liver and/or spleen.

Chronic leukemia:

In chronic leukemia, the white blood cells of cancer develop slowly than acute leukaemia and they gradually could not do their function well. An increased number of lymphocytes, which make up one of the main sub-groups of white cells in the blood, are seen in chronic leukaemia. This blood cancer has a slow process of development of cancer cells. Depending on the affection of white blood cells, chronic leukaemia is called either chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) or chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). The peak age for CLL is 65 and it is rare in people under the age of 45.
The following signs may oocur due to chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) or chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL):

Abdominal discomfort (this could be the result of an enlarged spleen)
Infections caused by not having enough healthy white blood cells
Fever
Night sweats
Swollen lymph glands
Bone pain
Weight loss
Headaches and vision problems
Tiredness
Anaemia

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My wife was suffering from Acute Leukemia. She died on 23rd Jan 2008. Her disease was diagnosed very late when she was in the 3rd stage. When I came to know about the fact, I did intense search on the internet and gained knowledge about the Leukemia. Had I known those facts earlier, her life could have been saved. I have collected some information and I am uploading it on blog so that it can help some one.What is leukemia? In simple words it is, “Too many white blood cells in the body”. Blood contains three types of cells

RBC – Red Blood Cells (Carry Oxygen)

WBC – White Blood Cells (Also called leukocytes, they are part of body’s immune system. These cells have several subcategories and they have roles to fight with the invaders such as bacteria, viruses and foreign proteins.

Platelets – Helps in blood clotting.

These cells are produced inside bone marrow that presents inside the bone cavities. Leukemia affected bone marrow produces large number of abnormal white blood cells making patient extremely fragile to infection. Leukemia can be acute or chronic. Acute Leukemia is most dangerous.

Examples of Acute Leukemia are.

• Acute myelocytic leukaemia (AML)

• Acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL)

Examples of Chronic Leukemia are.

• Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)

• Chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML)

It is possible to have chronic leukaemia for months or even years without knowing it.

What are the symptoms?

• Tiredness due to Anemia.

• Paleness of the face.

• Bruising easily even without falling. A purple/dark red spot around bruise indicates less platelet count.

• Repeated Infections.

• Weight Loss.

• Loss of appetite.

• Fever.

• Sweats.

• Enlarged Lymph Glands.

• Fever.

• Enlarged spleen cause enormous pain in the stomach.

• Bleeding from Gum, Nose and Ears due to lack of platelets in the blood stream.

What cause Leukaemia?

The causes are not very clearly known some reasons are…

• Genetic Effects.

• Exposure to retroviruses.

How it is diagnosed?

Many times it is diagnosed by chance when blood test is performed for other reasons. Doctors can diagnose based on the blood reports but bone marrow test is used to confirm the diagnosis. Special test such as chromosome study is performed to classify the Leukaemia.

What is the treatment?

It usually involves intensive chemotherapy. Drugs are given as injection into veins. Other chemotherapy drugs such as fludarabine (Fludara) may be used in late stage disease. In bone marrow failure steroid treatment is given to recover the bone marrow. Chemotherapy drugs are very strong and have some side effects like fatigue, loss of hair and loss of appetite. It also kills the healthy bone marrow thus making patient weaker. These drugs can not distinguish between healthy and ill cells. Milder cases can be cured by regular blood transfusion. X-ray therapy (Radiation) given to infected lymph or to whole body depends on the level of the disease. In some cases bone marrow transplant can be done but this is very expensive treatment and out of the reach of a poor common man. Patient need a matching bone marrow donor as body easily rejects foreign bone marrow. Fifty to sixty percent patients live normal life after bone marrow transplant. Since this disease can occur any time again so regular monitoring is required.

I hope that this article would be informative. I am also writing an article how cancer can be cured using Pranayam, Yoga, Food and Natural herbs. I will also talk about the website alternative cancer care and about the Green Blood.