How Does Leukemia Start?

One of the biggest health concerns in our country today is cancer. This dreaded disease affects people of all ages from all walks of life, and can be challenging to treat. Leukemia actually refers to a group of cancers dealing with the blood or bone marrow. Four major types of leukemia exist, depending on whether the onset is acute or chronic, and which cells the cancer affects. Therefore, leukemia is typically referred to as either acute lymphocytic, acute myelogenous, chronic lymphocytic or chronic myelogenous.

How leukemia begins depends in part on the type of leukemia present. All cancers involve an abnormal cell in the body which begins to multiple rapidly, crowding out the normal cells with immature cancerous cells. With leukemia, this abnormal cell growth is specific to bone marrow cells, but can differ a little as to which type. In lymphocytic leukemia, the bone marrow cells that are supposed to form the lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, are affected. In myelogenous leukemia, the bone marrow cells responsible for forming the red blood cells, platelets, and certain other types of white blood cells are affected. Basically, leukemia starts when abnormal cells in the bone marrow start to proliferate.

Once leukemia begins, its progression differs based on the type. In the acute forms of leukemia, cancer cells quickly outnumber normal cells, causing a quick progression of symptoms. The proliferation of cancerous cells serves to crowd out the normal cells manufactured in the bone marrow. A decrease in lymphocytes and other white blood cells leads to an increased risk of infections, while a decrease in red blood cells leads to anemia and a decline in platelets to increase risk of heavy bleeding. In chronic lymphocytic leukemia, too many abnormal lymphocytes are formed, weakening the body's immune response. In chronic myelogenous leukemia, the red blood cell count decreases slightly, while the white blood cell and platelet counts continuously increase, which can cause serious anemia issues over time. Typically, the chronic forms of leukemia, while serious, are not as immediately life-threatening as the acute forms.

Besides the symptoms that present on a blood panel, people with leukemia also may have a host of other symptoms caused by leukemia. These can include typical cancer symptoms of lack of energy, night sweats and shortness of breath. Also, leukemia can cause unusual bruising, slow healing from wounds or excessive bleeding, red spots on the skin, and bone and joint aches. Treatment varies by the type of leukemia present, and may include chemotherapy, stem cell transplant and drugs.