Top 10 Causes of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia!
The Main Causes of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia that we should not ignore. Also, Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) is a fast-growing cancer of a type of white blood cell called a lymphoblast. It all occurs when the bone marrow produces a large number of immature lymphoblasts. Bone marrow is the soft tissue at the center of bones that helps form all blood cells.
The abnormal lymphoblasts grow rapidly and replace normal cells in the bone marrow. Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia prevents the production of healthy blood cells. Potentially life-threatening symptoms can occur as the normal blood count drops. So, check now The Top 10 Causes of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia:
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Causes of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia: Most of the time, no clear cause can be found for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia . The following factors can play a role in the development of all types of leukemia:
- Certain chromosomal problems
- Exposure to radiation, including x-rays before birth
- Past treatment with chemotherapy drugs
- Smoking – Smokers are much more likely to develop Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia than non-smokers, and studies have shown that parents who smoke at home may increase the risk of leukemia in their children
- Being overweight (Obesity) – some studies have shown that people who are overweight have a slightly higher risk of developing Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia than those with normal weight
- Have a weakened immune system – people with reduced immunity (as a result of having HIV or AIDS or taking immunosuppressants) are at an increased risk of developing Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
- Receiving a bone marrow transplant
- Toxins such as benzene
The following factors are known to increase the risk of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia :
- Down syndrome or other genetic disorders
- A brother or sister with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
This type of leukemia usually affects children ages 3 to 7. Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia is the most common childhood cancer , but it can also occur in adults.
Symptoms of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia: Symptoms of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia usually start slowly and then increase in severity as the number of burst cells in the blood increases.
In people with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia , the blood and bone marrow have a large number of early white blood cells, or lymphocytes, that become leukemia cells. The main symptoms of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia include:
- excessive sweat
- Fatigue
- Frequent, unexplained bleeding, such as nosebleeds or bleeding gums
- high fever
- Painful joints and/or bones
- panting
- Multiple infections over a short period
- Swollen glands (lymph nodes)
- swollen liver
- Skin bruises easily
- Skin is paler than it should be
- unexplained weight loss
Affected cells can spread to the central nervous system (CNS), affecting the brain and spinal cord. If this happens, the patient may experience neurological symptoms such as dizziness, vomiting, blurred vision, fits (convulsions) and headaches .
Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Treatments: As Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia is an aggressive condition that develops quickly, treatment usually begins a few days after diagnosis.
Treatment is usually carried out in the following steps:
- Induction – initially, treatment aims to kill the leukemic cells in your bone marrow, restore balance to the cells in your blood, and resolve any symptoms you may have
- Consolidation – aims to kill any remaining leukemia cells in your central nervous system
- Maintenance – involves taking regular doses of chemotherapy pills to prevent the leukemia from coming back.
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Chemotherapy is the main treatment for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia . Other treatments you may need include antibiotics and blood transfusions. In some cases, a bone marrow transplant may also be necessary to achieve a cure.