Also called: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, ALL Show
What is leukemia?Leukemia is a term for cancers of the blood cells. Leukemia starts in blood-forming tissues such as the bone marrow. Your bone marrow makes the cells which will develop into white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. Each type of cell has a different job:
When you have leukemia, your bone marrow makes large numbers of abnormal cells. This problem most often happens with white blood cells. These abnormal cells build up in your bone marrow and blood. They crowd out the healthy blood cells and make it hard for your cells and blood to do their work. What is acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)?Acute lymphocytic leukemia is a type of acute leukemia. It's also called ALL and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. "Acute" means that it usually gets worse quickly if it's not treated. ALL is the most common type of cancer in children. It can also affect adults. In ALL, the bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. These cells normally help your body fight infection. But in ALL, they are abnormal and cannot fight infection very well. They also crowd out the healthy cells, which can lead to infection, anemia, and easy bleeding. These abnormal cells can also spread to other parts of the body, including the brain and spinal cord. What causes acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)?ALL happens when there are changes in the genetic material (DNA) in bone marrow cells. The cause of these genetic changes is unknown. However, there are certain factors that raise your risk of ALL. Who is at risk for acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)?The factors that raise your risk of ALL include:
What are the symptoms of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)?The signs and symptoms of ALL include:
How is acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) diagnosed?Your health care provider may use many tools to diagnose ALL and figure out which subtype you have:
If you are diagnosed with ALL, you may have additional tests to see whether the cancer has spread. These include imaging tests and a lumbar puncture, which is a procedure to collect and test cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). What are the treatments for acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)?Treatments for ALL include:
Treatment is usually done in two phases:
Treatment during both phases also usually includes central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis therapy. This therapy helps prevent the spread of leukemia cells to the brain and spinal cord. It may be high dose chemotherapy or chemotherapy injected into the spinal cord. It also sometimes includes radiation therapy. NIH: National Cancer Institute Start HereWhat are early warning signs of leukemia?Common leukemia signs and symptoms include:. Fever or chills.. Persistent fatigue, weakness.. Frequent or severe infections.. Losing weight without trying.. Swollen lymph nodes, enlarged liver or spleen.. Easy bleeding or bruising.. Recurrent nosebleeds.. Tiny red spots in your skin (petechiae). What are the 3 crucial leukemia symptoms?Common signs and symptoms of leukemia include: Fatigue, tiring easily. Fever or night sweats. Frequent infections.
How is acute lymphocytic leukemia diagnosed early?Tests and procedures used to diagnose acute lymphocytic leukemia include:. Blood tests. Blood tests may reveal too many or too few white blood cells, not enough red blood cells, and not enough platelets. ... . Bone marrow test. ... . Imaging tests. ... . Spinal fluid test.. What is a potential symptom of acute lymphocytic leukemia?Lumps caused by swollen lymph nodes in and around the neck, armpits, abdomen or groin. Pale skin. Shortness of breath. Weakness, fatigue or a general decrease in energy.
|