Learning About Cancer Diagnosis(leukemia chemotherapy)

leukemia chemotherapy

After the symptoms are clarified and cancer is detected, many tests and dignosis are done to ascertain the level of spread and the stage.This will be detremental to the method of treatment to prevent its spread. The treatment starts with the general check up and then on the advise of the medical practitioner, you will have to undergo tests ranging from blood tests to surgery.

Tests conducted on the blood and urine samples may be able to give etails on the condition of the patient.In luekemia blood tests define the extent of spread of the diesase by reporting the low platelet counts and low red blood corposilsa and white blood corposils .Marker levels of the tumors may vary on the extent of growth of varying cancers.These laboratry tests are the beginning of investigations of cancer.

The next step is pinpointing the location and size of the current tumor. Various technological advancements have given the advantage to view the body from inside thrugh differnt machines.
Now, before starting treatments, doctors are aware of everything about the tumor- size, location which makes tratment much easier than before.During the process of eliminating the cancer cells the healthy cells are not destroyed.faster and accurate technology is availed by cancer patients so their recovery is less painful and easier.there are various ways of imaging available in today's hospitals that help the doctor to treat you better.

X rays used to be the most common vay of seeing the bones and growths on them.However, typical xrays are outdated now.They have been replaced by CT scans, MRIs , radionuclide scanning , Ultrasonography.Xray's have been computerised and called CT scans.MRI or Magnetic resonence imaging seems o be the most popular way of scanning. Magnetic rays encapsule the body ,read by the connected computer to take a series of pictures of the detailed area.It shows intricate detailing of the cancerous cells and other healthy tissues.

In the radionuclide scanning the patient either swallows a radioactive dye or is injected with it depending on the area to be scanned. The connected scanner computerised machine, measures the level of radioactivity in different organs. The growth or tumor areas are highlighted, making detection easier.After the test is over, radioactive substances are absolved by the body.

Ultrasonography is also simple and effective ways to view inside the body without any invasive technique. High frequency sound waves hit the body and bounce back to give an image of the inside organs. The bounced back sound waves produce an echo that forms the picture of the normal and cancerous growth. These entire computer aided scan are viewed on the screen and later printed on the paper for making reports.

Looking at the scan, ascertain the exact position of the tumor growth and then a biopsy is conducted. The removal of tissue samples from the patient's body to be sent for laboratory testing for cancer by an oncological pathologist is known as Biopsy.

Biopsy is generally conducted through Endoscopy, fine needle test and surgical removal of tissue sample. Endoscopy is when a small camera attached through the tube is put in the body for taking pictures, removal of sample tissue for testing. The fine needle test is done by inserting a long needle into the growth area for sample tests. The surgical biopsy is done when the whole tumor is removed and sent for testing or a portion of the tumor is removed to be sent for biopsy.

After doing these tests, the oncologist is able to make out the extent of spread of cancer in the body. They can also make out whether the cancer is in the beginning stage or advanced. These diagnostic kits have been of a great help to prevent many more deaths by cancer. Early detection of all cancers is the first step to its cure.

leukemia chemotherapy

Effective Leukemia Treatment(leukemia chemotherapy)

leukemia chemotherapy

Leukemia leads to a reduction of white blood cells in the body system. Leukemia can thus be treated by way of ensuring that the body increases the White blood cells count. Leukemia can also be treated just by use of the same methods as used to treat cancer.

Chemotherapy is one such way, though this may take too much time. In fact, treatment using this method can take a period of not less than two years. Another way of treating the condition is by fixing the bone marrow problem. This method is expensive and is done in very few countries since it involves use of sophisticated instruments and highly experienced medics.

Replacement of the infected bone marrow with a healthy one is what it entails. A radiation therapy is also recommended though this has to go hand in hand with chemotherapy. Radiation entails giving doses of x-ray for a couple of months.

In cases where there is overproduction of White blood cells, there may be some blood infections. This may lead to blood disorders, and hence become necessary to use antibiotics to fight the problem.

If leukemia is at early stages, one can prolong survival with active immunotherapy. This is however still being experimented, as it is reported by Leukemia Society of America. Leukemia is actually a chronic problem and its treatment is not a matter of a short duration of time. Patience is thus of paramount importance. Cases of complete eradication using the above mentioned methods have been reported worldwide.

leukemia chemotherapy

Leukemia (leukemia chemotherapy)

leukemia chemotherapy

All of the different "types" of cancer can be deadly, that's a given. Even though survival rates tend to be much higher nowadays than they were perhaps twenty years ago, the fact is that a diagnosis of cancer can still be a death sentence and this is especially so when it affects the most vital components of the body.

One such type of cancer that falls into this category is cancer of the blood, more commonly known as leukemia. Many people may not think of it this way, but, in simple terms, blood is the most important tissue of the body.

It is effectively the conduit that connects all the other organs and tissues of the body together, carrying and supplying oxygen and other vital elements to even the remotest parts of the body. Bloods importance to the body cannot be over estimated.

So, the most dangerous feature of leukemia is that is attacks the blood which then has access to all of the bodies other organs, including the all brain, heart, kidneys and liver. Thus, the cancerous cells are spread throughout the body by the very blood that is normally the key to good health, in a leukemia sufferer.

To take this analogy one stage further, blood cancer specifically targets the leukocytes or the "white blood corpuscles" of the blood, which are the very ones that usually protect the body from external infections. Thus, the body's immunity from, or resistance to, external infections is dramatically reduced in a leukemia sufferer. Such blood cancer causes the body to produce infected and abnormal cells that hinder the function of blood (i.e. the transport of oxygen around the body) rather than helping it.

It is common for a leukemia sufferer to become anemic, and to lose weight, because the cancerous cells are unable to adequately the hemoglobin, the body's chief source of iron.

As a consequence, the blood cancer patient tends to lose all vitality and energy, and becomes especially vulnerable, because the infected blood tends to cause the brain to start to malfunction to some extent.

Exposure to raised levels of radiation is a prime proven cause of leukemia. Likewise, children born with Downs Syndrome have a raised probability of suffering blood cancer, and benzene (an industrial hydro-carbon) is also cited as a cause.

However, the slightly better news is that the abnormal cells are easily detected under the microscope, and a timely bone marrow examination should confirm these microscopic tests.

Chemotherapy, whilst it can be extremely painful, is nevertheless still the most effective method of killing the cancerous cells, although any patient undergoing such treatment should be prepared to have to ingest an unholy alliance of chemicals that he (or she) needs to take.

Similarly, radiotherapy can be effective also, with various unpleasant side effects, such as hair loss and poor skin quality whilst undergoing treatment.

Although it is undoubtedly one of the most deadly forms of cancer, leukemia is nevertheless treatable and indeed curable, and extensive research into more effective treatment is a constantly ongoing fact.

Methods like a bone marrow transplant, which may be required at a later stage, are also effective in treating the patient.

leukemia chemotherapy