Leukemia Cancer
At North Houston Cancer Clinics, we aim to provide our patients with the best leukemia diagnosis and personalized and effective leukemia treatment. Our patients are our priority, and our expert professionals try their best to offer high-technology treatment plans to our cancer patients. We offer leukemia treatments, education, support, and post-cancer therapies to improve the cancer journey for patients.
What Is Leukemia Cancer ?
Leukemia is a group of blood cancers that directly affects the blood cells and bone marrow, especially white blood cells, which will turn into abnormal cells. An increased number of white blood cells in your body causes it. It causes excess white blood cells in the body, which will get crowded and make other red cells and platelets not work correctly. This is known as the cancer of white blood cells.
It is estimated, according to the research, that about 6000 people have been diagnosed with Leukemia in recent years. The typical average age is around 65 years old. It means it is more likely to be present in old age people.
Leukemia Cancer Treatments & Diagnostics
Leukemia treatment depends upon the stage of leukemia cancer you have, how far it spreads into the body and your medical condition. The goal of leukemia treatment is to stop the progression of this disease. The following are some options available for leukemia treatment.
 Chemotherapy: It will include chemotherapeutic medicines that will kill or alter the growth of cancer cells, which in turn helps relieve leukemia symptoms.
Radiation Therapy: It uses powerful energy beams to kill cancer cells.
Surgery: Doctors can perform surgery to extract the tumor from the bone marrow, where cancer cells have spread.
Stem Cell Transplant: Stem cell transplant means replacing the cancer cells with a stem cell or bone marrow transplant. It will start producing new and healthy cells.
Our expert doctors and professionals at North Houston Cancer Clinics have comprehensive knowledge about leukemia cancer treatment to create the best plans for our patients.
Leukemia Cancer Diagnosis
At North Houston Cancer Clinic, doctors will check your blood and perform physical tests for a leukemia diagnosis. The following are some typical test procedures that are usually followed.
- Blood Tests include complete blood counts, which will show the number and stages of cancer in the bloodstream. It also shows the number of mature and immature cells.
- Bone Marrow Biopsy is when a doctor takes a small sample from your marrow with a flexible and long needle. It will show which type of Leukemia you are experiencing.
- Imaging Scans include CT computerized tomography, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), and other scans that can also be performed for leukemia diagnosis.
Types of Leukemia Cancer
Leukemia can be classified into two main groups depending on the type of white blood cells it affects. The first one is lymphoid, which involves lymphocytes, which are a kind of white blood cells. The other is myeloid, which involves marrow cells, including red blood cells, platelets, and other white blood cells. It can also be differentiated by how quickly it spreads and becomes severe.
Acute Leukemia: It means the Leukemia appears and divides quickly. Most cancerous cells don’t grow and mature enough to perform everyday functions in this cancer. It spreads very fast.
Chronic Leukemia: Leukemia appears slowly and gradually over months and years. It spreads slowly. There are some immature cells, while other cells are normal and perform normal functioning.
Other Types of Leukemia Cancer
Following are some other types of Leukemia.
- Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia ( ALL)
The most common type of Leukemia is cancer, which is found in children and spreads abnormally in the other parts of your body, including lymph nodes and the central nervous system.
- Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)
This is also a common type of Leukemia, which is more prevalent in children and not commonly found in adults.
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
This is one of the most common types of leukemia cancer and occurs in adults. In some cases, people will look stable and do not need any treatment, while in some cases, the body is not performing well and needs leukemia treatment.
- Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
This is a specific type of Leukemia that occurs commonly in people aged 65 or older. There are no visible symptoms that appear in this cancer, and you need to do your routine checkup and blood test for leukemia diagnosis.
Is Leukemia Preventable ?
As we all know, the cause of Leukemia is still undiagnosed and unknown. There is no reported way to prevent Leukemia. However, people working in areas with a high chance of exposure to rays and benzene should prevent themselves from these solvents and rays. Unnecessary exposure to high-power waves and X-rays is an excellent way to protect your body from leukemia cancer.
Types of cancer we treat in North Houston Cancer Clinics
Frequently Asked Question
Leukemia is a type of cancer mainly caused by frequent changes or mutations in the genetic material produced in the bone marrow cells. But these changes occur during the lifetime. They are not inherited.
Leukemia is a cancer that starts growing abnormally in the soft parts of bone. Still, it spreads quickly into the bloodstream and can easily target other body parts, including the spleen, liver, lymph nodes, etc.
End-stage Leukemia is the last stage of this cancer and is considered the last days of patients—slow breathing and difficulty in breathing with cold and congestion. Skin becomes dry and cool and sometimes turns into a bluish shade.
Common leukemia diagnosis includes biopsies of bone marrow, which include examination of the sample to check from where Leukemia starts. Some imaging scans and blood tests may also be done for leukemia diagnosis.