Synonyms
Leukemia, hyperleukocytosis, leukosis
Definition
Blood cancer is a disease of the haematopoietic and lymphatic system in which there is a proliferation of white blood cells, the so-called leukocytes. These are usually altered, non-functional white blood cells (tumour cells). The precursors of white blood cells in particular are found in greatly increased numbers in blood cancer.
The proliferation of the altered white blood cells, especially in the bone marrow, leads to a displacement of other blood cells, such as red blood cells, platelets and functional white blood cells. This leads to deficiency symptoms such as anaemia (anaemia, lack of red blood cells), coagulation disorders due to the lack of blood platelets or immune deficiencies due to the low number of functioning white blood cells. In addition, white blood cells can infiltrate other organs in the body and thus impair their function, for example the liver, spleen or lymph nodes.
Causes of blood cancer
A clear cause for the development of blood cancer is not yet known. However, there are some risk factors that can influence the development: Radioactive radiation or X-rays, chemicals such as pesticides or solvents (e.g. benzene), drugs used in tumour therapy (e.g. cytostatic drugs: alkylants, topoisomerase II inhibitors or other drugs to suppress the immune system), genetic predisposition e.g. in the form of the Philadelphia chromosome (altered chromosome 22) and smoking.
Forms of blood cancer
Acute blood cancer: The acute form of blood cancer is a life-threatening disease that leads to death within a few weeks to months if left untreated. The disease often occurs out of complete health and very quickly develops into a severe clinical picture. Chronic blood cancer: The chronic form of blood cancer usually begins insidiously and usually progresses over several years, with few to mild symptoms at the beginning. The number of pathologically proliferated white blood cells is not yet so high in this form that the other cells are displaced too much.
Symptoms
The first signs of a possible blood cancer are paleness, weakness, malaise, fatigue, fever, night sweats, weight loss, bleeding tendencies (frequent bleeding gums, prolonged menstrual bleeding, nosebleeds, spontaneous bruising, small bleedings on the skin (petechiae)). Also an increased susceptibility to infections, itching and swelling of the lymph nodes, liver or spleen are signs of blood cancer. There are no characteristic symptoms for the chronic or acute form of blood cancer.
In most cases, however, the symptoms are less severe in the chronic form. The different types of blood cancer can manifest themselves differently. Particularly in the acute forms, there is often a rapid deterioration in the general condition, bleeding signs such as nosebleeds, bleeding gums or bruises, and an increase in infections, some of which can be severe.
Swelling of lymph nodes can also be an indication of leukaemia. The blood count often shows an increase in white blood cells. This is called leukocytosis.
At the same time, there is often a drop in platelets (thrombocytopenia) and red blood cells (anaemia) which can be seen in the blood count. However, there are also forms of leukaemia that can be detected in the blood count. The chronic forms of leukaemia are not seldom accidental findings, because they cause hardly any symptoms and are then conspicuous during a routine examination.
For example, conspicuous blood values or swelling of lymph nodes, spleen or liver. There are several subforms of blood cancer, depending on the precursor cell from which the changed/degenerated blood cancer cells originate. A distinction is first made between the myeloid and lymphatic forms.
The most important forms of blood cancer (leukemia) are listed below: The most important measure to diagnose blood cancer is the examination of the bone marrow as well as the peripheral blood. For this purpose, a blood count is made and the cell components of the blood are examined under the microscope and the number of different cell types is counted (number of red and white blood cells and number of platelets). Each form of blood cancer has a different but typical blood count. With the help of imaging techniques such as ultrasound, MRI, CT or X-ray, it is possible to determine whether lymph nodes and other organs are already affected by blood cancer. – Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)
- Acute lymphatic leukemia (ALL)
- Chronic lymphatic leukemia (CLL)
- Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)
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