Leukemia

Leukemia is cancer of the white blood cells found in the blood. This serious disease is often fatal. Leukemia is caused due to either of the 2 abnormal white blood cells:

• Myeloid white blood cells are made in the bone marrow from where they travel through the bloodstream destroying foreign organisms.
  
• Lymphoid white blood cells are located in the lymph nodes and lymphatic system.
  
  

  Chronic leukemia is a situation where the disease progresses slowly. Acute leukemia is indicated by a sudden onset and is more likely to affect children and young people.

A person suffering from leukemia noticed repeated infections and unexplained bruising. There is a tendency to feel fatigued and anemic. Other symptoms include loss of weight and fever. Aching joints and bones are yet another symptom of leukemia. Symptoms of acute lymphoblastic leukemia appear very rapidly. A detailed blood test is taken for diagnosing leukemia. When it shows an abnormal number of abnormal white blood cells, it is indicative of leukemia. A bone marrow biopsy is taken to help classify the leukemia.

Treatment for leukemia includes radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immune therapy and bone marrow transplantation. Chemotherapy treatment uses cytotoxic drugs to kill abnormal cells thereby stopping their further division. But the fallout of this procedure is that often normal body cells such as those in the hair and skin are also killed. Bone marrow transplant is carried out only on children and younger patients. Marrow cells from a donor, who is generally a sibling, is replaced in the patient.

Hematologist

Hematologists are physicians who specialize in diagnosing and treating ailments related to blood, and blood systems such as bone marrow, vascular systems etc. They deal with conditions such as anemia, leukemia etc. Hematologists should be strong in the field of internal medicine, anatomy, physiology, and bio-chemistry too. A hematologist completes medical school and undergoes internship for three years in the field of internal medicine and further specializes for two years in the field of hematology. Few hematologists are also trained oncologists, who treat problems related to blood cancer. Hematologists are specialists in treating blood disorders and anything to do with blood. They

• Interpret blood test results by studying the blood films and bone marrow films under the microscope.
  
• Treat blood disorders like hemophilia.
  
• Treat cancerous conditions linked to the blood like leukemia, lymphoma etc.
  
• They deal with blood transfusion sciences etc.
  
• They deal with bone marrow aspirations, bone marrow biopsy, chemotherapy etc. in a few cases they also prescribe medications for anemia etc.
  
• Hematologists handle computerized diagnostic equipments and complicated bio-chemical analyses with proficiency and ease.

Modern techniques used in the field of hematology

• Diagnostic equipments with latest computer technology helps in drawing clear conclusions on the disorders of the blood.
  
• Various bio-chemical analyses help in understanding the condition of the blood and related problems in a better manner.
  

Interferon

Interferon are proteins that are secreted by the immune system. Interferons can be alpha, beta and gamma. Different interferon drugs are used to treat conditions such as multiple sclerosis, leukemia, malignant melanoma, HPV and chronic hepatitis. Inteferons can enhance the body's immune response, combat cancer cells and weaken them.

Bibliography / Reference

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