Leukemia

What is Leukemia?

Leukemia is a cancer that starts in your bone marrow — the soft tissue inside your bones where blood cells are made.

It causes your bone marrow to produce abnormal white blood cells that multiply too fast and crowd out healthy cells, leading to many of its symptoms.

Leukemia can affect any age, though some types are more common in adults. It's serious, but treatment has come a long way, and many people go on to live long, healthy lives.

Types of Leukemia Cancer

Leukemia isn't just one disease. It's grouped based on how quickly it develops and which type of white blood cell it affects. 

Your care team will tell you exactly which type you have, since it plays a big role in shaping your treatment plan.

What are the Symptoms of Leukemia?

Leukemia signs and symptoms include:

• Bone or joint pain
• Easy bruising or bleeding
• Feeling full or having pain in your upper belly, from a swollen spleen or liver
• Feeling tired or weak, even after resting
• Frequent infections or fevers
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Tiny red spots on your skin (petechiae)
• Unexplained weight loss

Since many of these signs can be caused by other, less serious things, it's important to talk with your doctor if they don't go away.

Leukemia Risk Factors

For most people diagnosed with leukemia, there's no clear, single cause. It often comes down to a mix of genetics and things you've been exposed to over the years.

Some factors may play a role, such as:

• A family history of leukemia
• Certain genetic conditions you're born with
• Exposure to certain chemicals, like benzene
• Exposure to high levels of radiation
• Getting older, for most types of leukemia
• Previous chemotherapy or radiation treatment for another cancer
• Smoking

Having a risk factor doesn't mean you'll develop leukemia. Many people who develop it have no known risk factors at all.

Preventing Leukemia

There's no sure way to prevent leukemia, especially since most cases don't have a clear cause. Still, there are steps you can take to lower your overall cancer risk:

• Avoid smoking and limit exposure to tobacco smoke
• Be mindful of unnecessary radiation exposure
• Keep up with regular checkups so any changes in your health are caught early
• Try to limit contact with harsh chemicals, like benzen, when you can

If you have a family history of leukemia or a genetic condition that raises your risk, talk with your doctor about what monitoring might make sense for you.

Diagnosing Leukemia

If your doctor suspects leukemia, they'll start with a physical exam and a conversation about your symptoms and health history. They'll check for things like swollen lymph nodes, an enlarged spleen or liver or signs of bruising and bleeding.

From there, they may recommend additional testing to confirm a diagnosis and figure out exactly which type of leukemia you have.

Blood Work with Leukemia

Blood tests are usually the first step in diagnosing leukemia. Common leukemia tests include:

• Bone marrow biopsy: A small sample of bone marrow is removed and examined under a microscope to confirm a diagnosis and identify the specific type
• Complete blood count (CBC): Checks your levels of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Unusually high or low white blood cell counts can be an early sign of leukemia
• Genetic testing: Done on blood or bone marrow cells to help your care team understand more about your specific case
• Imaging tests: Help check for signs of leukemia elsewhere in your body

Leukemia Treatment

Treatment for leukemia depends on the type you have, how quickly it's progressing and your overall health. Your care team will build a plan around your specific situation. Common treatments include:

• Chemotherapy: Uses medication to kill fast-growing leukemia cells
• Targeted therapy: Uses drugs designed to attack specific features of leukemia cells while sparing healthy ones
• Immunotherapy: Helps your own immune system recognize and fight leukemia cells more effectively
• Radiation therapy: Uses targeted energy to destroy leukemia cells in a specific area
• Stem cell transplant: Replaces damaged bone marrow with healthy cells after high-dose treatment
• Watchful waiting: Sometimes appropriate for slow-growing types of leukemia that may not need immediate treatment

Talk to Your Doctor

A diagnosis involving lymphoma or leukemia can feel overwhelming, but you don't have to navigate it alone. If you notice symptoms or are concerned about your risk, talk to your doctor. They can help sort out what's going on and, if needed, connect you with a specialist for further testing and care. Catching a blood cancer early gives you more treatment options, and your care team will be with you at every step.

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