Leukemia is a malignant tumor of the hematopoietic system, commonly known as “blood cancer”, and is one of the ten most prevalent malignant tumors in China. The incidence of acute leukemia is the highest among young adults and children under 35 years old, and it is the malignant tumor that causes the highest mortality rate among adolescents and young adults, and according to statistics, the number of leukemia cases increases by at least 30,000 to 40,000 each year. However, with the rapid development of medical technology, “blood cancer” is no longer a terminal disease, as long as timely detection and timely treatment, leukemia can achieve satisfactory results.
Leukemia can be divided into two categories: acute and chronic. Acute leukemia can be divided into two categories: lymphocytic (ALL) and myeloid (AML). Chronic leukemia can also be divided into two categories: lymphocytic (CLL) and myeloid (CML).
I. What are the manifestations of leukemia?
Self-perceived symptoms are mostly “flu”-like symptoms and fever. Clinical symptoms: In acute leukemia, abnormal white blood cells that have lost the ability to differentiate, i.e., leukemia cells, are filled in the bone marrow. As a result, normal red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets cannot be produced or are severely inhibited and poorly produced, which results in a variety of symptoms, of which the most important clinical symptoms are three: fever, anemia, and bleeding tendency of the skin and mucous membranes.
If you have the following symptoms, you should be alert.
1. Fever. High fever of 38℃ or more and generalized lethargy accompanied by cold symptoms. Normal white blood cells are reduced, resistance to pathogenic bacteria and viruses is reduced, it seems to have a cold, and a high fever of 38℃ or more that does not subside.
2. Anemia. Red blood cells are reduced, and symptoms such as pallor, palpitations, shortness of breath, etc. occur.
3.Bleeding. Easy bleeding, frequent epistaxis, bruising and petechiae can appear locally with a slight bump, and even cause internal bleeding. The tendency to bleed is caused by a decrease in platelets, and the hemostatic effect does not work well. Sometimes, internal bleeding can occur even with a very mild bruise injury. Or sometimes bruises are found unintentionally.
However, it is rare to have all three of the above as initial symptoms, and it is quite common to visit a hospital with cold symptoms or persistent fever and find acute leukemia after blood tests combined with peripheral blood smears. In addition, sometimes there may be no conscious symptoms at all, but anemia is found during a health checkup, and further examination confirms the diagnosis of acute leukemia.
How should I treat leukemia once it is diagnosed?
Once leukemia is diagnosed, it is necessary to receive regular treatment. Many patients can live longer and gradually improve or even achieve long-term disease-free survival after regular chemotherapy. One type of acute leukemia, acute promyelocytic leukemia (AML-M3), can be treated with oral retinoic acid (a subtype of vitamin A), low-dose chemotherapy, and sequential treatment with arsenic trioxide, resulting in a 5-year survival rate of more than 90% or even a cure. In addition, leukemia can also be completely cured by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Third, what are the precautions in daily life of leukemia patients?
1, because the patient’s immune system is low, the room air should be kept fresh, regular disinfection, less to public places, avoid strenuous activities. Especially during chemotherapy myelosuppression, bring a good mask, and timely replacement of new masks, should pay attention to the protection of isolation.
2, supply a balanced nutrition, easy to digest diet, the diet should not be too hot, too hard, so as not to cause bleeding. Pay attention to dietary hygiene, especially do not eat “raw, hard, coarse, spicy” and other unclean and hard food.
3, strengthen oral cleaning, platelet low best not to brush teeth, you can use soda and other mouthwash diligently rinse mouth, if brush teeth advocate the use of soft-bristled toothbrush.
4.Strengthen perineal cleanliness to prevent urinary tract infections, especially for patients with anal fissures and hemorrhoids, frequently wash the anus with clean water or 1:1000 potassium permanganate sitz bath to prevent the formation of perianal abscesses.
5.Protect the vein and prevent drug extravasation. If drug extravasation occurs, apply cold compresses locally.
6.Patients receiving lumbar puncture treatment need to lie down for 4-6 hours after lumbar puncture, and premature activity may cause headache and other adverse reactions.
7.When nasal bleeding occurs, let the patient lie down, apply cold compresses to the nose, and fill the nasal cavity with epinephrine cotton balls; gingival bleeding can be stopped by compression with gelatin sponge.
8, learn to observe the early manifestations of infection: such as swollen gums, red throat, painful swallowing sensation, skin redness and swelling, the appearance of perianal abscess.
9.It is not advocated to use methods such as alcohol rubbing bath when fever is present, and medicine can be used under the guidance of doctors to avoid vasodilatation and bleeding.
10.Be strong to face the disease, establish confidence to overcome the disease, love life, maintain a good attitude, and actively cooperate with the doctor’s treatment.
11.Patients recuperating at home after discharge from hospital should add and remove clothes according to the season and climate change, pay attention to diet and hygiene, and advocate balanced intake of various nutrients.
12.Take medication at home on time, review the blood routine regularly according to the doctor’s discharge instructions, come to the hospital for chemotherapy regularly according to the hematologist’s requirements, and receive regular follow-up visits so that the doctor can understand the changes in the condition and determine the treatment and care methods.
How to prevent the occurrence of leukemia?
Leukemia is a malignant tumor of the blood and hematopoietic system, the cause of its pathogenesis is not yet completely clear t, but the following factors have a certain relationship with the occurrence of leukemia: 1, chemical toxins: especially benzene and its derivatives, these chemicals can induce mutations, leading to malignant cell proliferation and the development of leukemia. Benzene and its derivatives are often found in some daily household products, such as plastic and other white waste, in addition to paints, coatings, adhesives, etc. also contain benzene derivatives, should try to minimize exposure to the above substances.
2, certain drugs: clinically some drugs, especially chemotherapy drugs for the treatment of tumors, can cause leukemia. One of the drugs commonly used in the treatment of psoriasis is called “ethylene double morpholine”, which has been proven to cause leukemia and has now been eliminated. Chloramphenicol can cause leukemia and aplastic anemia, and is no longer used clinically. In addition, some antipyretic drugs, sulfonamides, etc. can also occasionally cause.
3, bad habits: it has been confirmed that bad habits such as the frequent consumption of carcinogenic nitrosamines containing cured and smoked meat and vegetables can also cause leukemia. People who frequently dye their hair have been shown to cause leukemia, especially in relation to the number of times they dye their hair.
4, other causes: such as ionizing radiation, radiation therapy, special viruses such as human leukemia virus (HTLV) infection, some chemical pesticides such as organophosphorus, certain other blood diseases are also common causes of leukemia, but the proportion of such factors is very small.
In short, do not talk about the disease, and see a doctor promptly if you are sick. In addition, maintaining good living habits, insisting on exercise and keeping a sound physical and mental state are good medicines to prevent and control diseases.