Definition:
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, otherwise known as acute lymphocytic leukemia is another form of cancer of the white blood cells. In this case, the immature and malignant white blood cells continues to multiply in an abnormally rapid thereby causing overproduction in the bone marrow. This disease causes damage and death by actively crowding out the Bone marrow's normal cells and spread to the other organs in the body. ALL is found to be common among children and young adults.
Diagnosis:
ALL is diagnosed through marrow and blood samples, showing abnormally high lymphocyte blasts. Results will also show the type of lymphocyte that are affected and the number and size of the leukemia cells.
Treatment:
The earlier detection of acute lymphocytic leukemia significantly increases the efficacy of the treatment, which basically aims to stimulate lasting remission. Treatment involves chemotheraphy, radiation therapy, use of steroids and a combination of intensive treatments that includes stem cell or bone marrow transplants.
Symptoms and Signs:
The initial symptoms of all are not specific but are known to worsen, requiring immediate medical attention. Among the known indicators include anemia, generalized fatigue and weakness, unexplained infections, fever and excessive bruising, weight loss, breathlessness, enlarged spleen and lymph nodes as well as joint pains.
Causes:
The underlying cause of ALL is still not known. In general, the development of cancer is brought about by the damage to the patient's DNA which will lead to uncontrolled cellular growth that rapidly spreads through the different organs in the body. Such damage can be largely contributed by environmental factors such as radiation, drugs and chemicals. There are also some families that display a hereditary predisposition to ALL.
:
acutelymphoblasticleukemia
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