Blood cancer is a general term that includes a large group of systemic lesions of hematopoietic organs. They occur against the background of mutation of bone marrow cells involved in hematopoiesis. The disease develops against the background of a malignant lesion of the bud of the hematopoietic process. This leads to suppression of the formation/growth of normal blood cells and an increase in transformed leukemia-initiating forms that spread through the bloodstream to various organs and tissues.
Types of blood cancer
By the nature of the course, leukemia is divided into two groups - chronic and acute. This division is not similar to the generally accepted concept used in other oncological diseases. That is, both forms (acute and chronic) are completely different diseases, while the acute form does not turn into a chronic one.
Acute leukemias are mutations of mainly immature blood blast cells.
Chronic forms develop mainly from mature cellular structures.
Acute leukemias based on morphological features (according to the FAB classification) are divided into:
- myelogenic;
- lymphoblastic;
- myelopoietic dysplasias.
At the same time, the acute form of lymphoblastic leukemia develops mainly in children (average age 14 years), and acute myeloblastic leukemia is characteristic mainly of elderly people (68 years). There is practically no gender difference in the group of myeloid leukemia, while in lymphoblastic leukemia, the incidence among men exceeds that of women (4.8 new cases against 3.1). Acute forms of leukemia are mostly aggressive.
Chronic leukemias are classified by the type of mature cells involved in the process. Allocate:
- myelocytic;
- neutrophil;
- monocytic;
- basophilic leukemia;
- lympholeukosis;
- erythromyelosis;
- myelosclerosis;
- histiocytosis;
- lymphomatosis;
- thrombocythemia.
All chronic forms of leukemia have a relatively long and benign course.
Hematosarcoma, which although formed from cells of hematopoietic tissue, unlike leukemias, belongs to the group of extracerebral tumors with localization in any organ. As it spreads, it can also affect the bone marrow, forming changes in the blood and symptoms characteristic of leukemia.
Stages of blood cancer
Several stages are distinguished in the clinical course of acute leukemia:
- initial form (pre-leukemia) - it is characterized by general symptoms of a non-specific nature;
- developed form - it proceeds with pronounced clinical symptoms, including: debut (acute stage), incomplete/complete remission, secondary attack (relapse), terminal stage.
In chronic leukemia, a stage with a benign course (monoclonal) and a malignant course (polyclonal) is distinguished separately. According to the course of chronic leukemia (with clinical symptoms), conditionally distinguish:
- initial stage (stage 1 blood cancer);
- developed stage (stage 2 and 3 blood cancer);
- terminal stage (stage 4 blood cancer).
Each of them has its own specific clinical manifestations.
Symptoms of blood cancer
The appearance of symptoms is noted on average 1.5 - 3 months after the beginning of the mutation in the hematopoietic stem cells. During this process, blast cells appear in the bone marrow, inhibiting the development of physiologically normal blood elements. The initial manifestations of blood cancer in acute leukemia vary widely - from sudden onset to slowly developing symptoms. With an acute onset, weakness, low-grade fever, joint pain, increased sweating, and loss of appetite first appear. At the first "attack" pronounced arthralgias, pains in muscles and bones appear. Most often, the disease is associated with SARS.
In the later stages, anemic and hemorrhagic symptoms develop - rapid fatigue, sharp weakness, pale skin, dizziness, tachycardia.
Against the background of increased intoxication, various kinds of infections join. Hemorrhagic symptoms appear - bleeding gums, small petechiae, bruises, bleeding in various internal organs. In patients, various lymph nodes increase, leukemic infiltrates form on the skin.
In the late stage, the process progresses, the functions of vital organs and systems are disturbed. Chronic forms are distinguished by a wider polymorphism of clinical manifestations. So, myeloid leukemia begins almost without symptoms, or proceeds against the background of non-specific symptoms:
- weaknesses;
- sweating;
- pain in the joints;
- subfebrile body temperature.
In the advanced stage, anorexia, weight loss, severe joint pain, spleen enlargement, and bleeding are added.
In case of chronic lymphoid leukemia, the initial symptoms are enlarged lymph nodes, later swelling of the upper body, skin itching, and infections that occur with frequent relapses are often added. The general condition of patients suffers, which is due to increased intoxication and manifestations of anemic syndrome. Dystrophic changes in various organs and systems increase, patients develop cachexia. Death occurs from bleeding, kidney failure, exhaustion, infectious and septic complications.
Blood cancer treatment methods
Therapy is carried out in the conditions of a specialized clinic or hematological hospital. The main and most effective way to treat blood cancer is chemotherapy aimed at eradicating cancer (blast) cells. The process of treating leukemia requires several stages. Among them are induction, consolidation and maintenance therapy, according to a specially developed treatment protocol.
In addition to chemotherapy, patients are prescribed transfusions of blood components (erythrocytes, platelets), antibiotics, and immunopreparations. An effective method of preventing recurrence of the disease is the transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells, which in some cases completely cures blood cancer
Prevention of blood cancer
There are still no strict recommendations for the prevention of blood cancer, because there is no clear understanding of the reasons that trigger the malignant process and the factors that contribute to it. Among the general measures that indirectly prevent the appearance of blood cancer, the following can be distinguished:
- refusal to smoke;
- avoidance of contact with carcinogenic substances, ionizing radiation;
- exclusion from the diet of products with artificial additives.
Accordingly, early diagnosis of blood cancer comes to the fore. It is possible under the conditions of regular preventive examinations, which is especially relevant for persons who belong to the risk group. These are people who have immunodeficiency conditions, hereditary predisposition, contact with carcinogens. Therefore, when the relevant symptoms appear, it is necessary to urgently consult an oncologist.
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