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Signs and symptoms of Leukemia and Lymphoma are similar to those of
other ailments, but eventually may become more persistent and severe.
See your physician if any of the following signs and symptoms persist or
recur.
Leukemia - Signs and
Symptoms may include:
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Pale complexion
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Weakness
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Chronic fatigue
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Shortness of
breath
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Unexplained
fever
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Bruising easily
-
Exaggerated
bleeding after injuries
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Recurrent
infection
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Pain in joints
and bones
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Increased size
of lymph nodes, liver or spleen
Lymphoma - Signs and
Symptoms may include:
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Painless
swelling of lymph nodes: neck, armpits, groin or other areas
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Fever
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Night sweats
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Tiredness
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Weight loss
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Itchy skin
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Skin rash
What You Should Know
Leukemia
– Facts:
Leukemia is a disease of the marrow, the spongy center of bones that
makes blood cells. In leukemia the body makes too many abnormal white
cells.
The major forms of
leukemia are divided into four categories. Myelogenous and Lymphocytic
leukemia each have acute and chronic forms. The terms myelogenous or
lyphocytic denote the cell type involved.
Leukemia may occur
in two forms: Acute leukemia and Chronic leukemia.
Acute leukemia is a
rapidly progressing disease that affects mostly cells that are unformed
or nor yet fully developed or differentiated. These immature cells
cannot carry out their normal functions.
Chronic leukemia
progresses slowly and permits the growth of greater numbers of more
developed cells. In general, these more mature cells can carry out some
of their normal functions.
Thus, the four major
types of leukemia are:
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Acute
Myelogenous Leukemia
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Acute
Lymphocytic Leukemia
-
Chronic
Myelogenous Leukemia
-
Chronic
Lymphocytic Leukemia
The ability to
measure specific features of cells has led to further subclassification
of the major categories of leukemia. The categories and subsets allow
the physician to decide what treatment works best for the cell type and
how quickly the disease may develop.
Chronic lyphocytic
leukemia occurs most often in adults, but can occur at any age. It
accounts for approximately one-half of leukemia cases.
Lymphoma
– Facts:
Lymphoma is a type
of cancer that develops in the lymphatic system, or collections of
lymphatic tissue, in organs like the stomach or intestines.
Lymphomas may
involve the marrow and the blood in some cases or may spread from one
site to other parts of the body.
Lymphocytic
leukemias originate and are most prominent in the marrow and spill over
into the blood. They occasionally spread to involve the lymph nodes.
There are two main
types of lymphoma: Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Hodgkin's lymphoma
generally spreads from one group of lymph nodes to the next in an
orderly way. It is often seen in adolescents or young adults who have a
better chance of recovery than those with other kinds of lymphoma.
Non-Hodgkin’s
lymphoma generally spreads through the lymphatic system in a less
orderly way than Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It is usually seen in adults who
can have a good chance of recovery depending on factors such as how
advanced the disease is.
There are more than
30 different types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. Nearly 90% of these are
B-cell lymphomas. There are 14 different types of B-cell lymphomas.
Diffuse large B-cell
lymphoma, (a fast growing lymphoma) and follicular lymphoma (a
slow-growing lymphoma) are the two most common B-cell lymphomas.
Together these two types make up more than half of all non-Hodgkin’s
lymphomas.
Other types of
non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas are T-cell, NK cell lymphomas, and
Immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferative disorders.
People infected with
human T-cell lymphocytotropic virus (HTLV) or human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV) also have an increased probability of developing Hodgkin’s
lymphoma.
There is an increase
in the incidence of non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas in farming communities.
Studies point out specific ingredients in herbicides and pesticides
being associated with lymphoma. However, the number of lymphoma cases
caused by such exposures has not been determined.
Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV), which attacks and weakens the body's immune system. The immune
system is then unable to fight infection and diseases that invade the
body. People with HIV disease have an increased risk of developing
infections, lymphoma and other types of cancer.
Epstein-Barr virus
infection may play a role in the increased risk of non-Hodgkin’s
lymphomas in persons with immune suppression as a result of organ
transplantation and its therapy. People with transplanted organs are
treated with drugs that suppress their immune system to keep it from
attacking the new organs. This process creates a risk of developing
non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. The exact risk depends on which drugs are used
and the doses involved. Infection with the hepatitis C virus may be a
risk factor for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
What You Can Do
At this time, there
are no special tests to find Leukemia or Lymphoma early. The best course
of action to take is to pay attention to any possible signs or symptoms
of this disease and report them to your doctor right away.
Close observation is
important for children:
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With a known
genetic abnormality that might increase their risk of leukemia.
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Who have had
another cancer treated with chemotherapy, or combined chemotherapy
and radiation therapy.
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Who have
received organ transplants and are taking immune system-suppressing
drugs. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is mostly spread
among adults through sex or the sharing of dirty needles by IV drug
users. Treating AIDS with new drugs seems to reduce the risk of
developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
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