Rungta Hospital

1. Leukemia- An Overview Cancer is a disease of the cells in the body. There are many types of cancer which arise from different types of cell. What all cancers have in common is that the cancer cells are abnormal and do not respond to normal control mechanisms. Large numbers of cancer cells build up because they multiply 'out of control', or because they live much longer than normal cells, or both. Leukemia is a cancer of cells in the bone marrow; the cells which develop into blood cells. With leukemia, the cancerous cells in the bone marrow spill out into the bloodstream. There are several types of leukemia. Most types arise from cells which normally develop into white blood cells. This is because the prognosis and treatments vary for the different types. When you have leukemia, the bone marrow starts to make a lot of abnormal white blood cells, called leukemia cells. They don't do the work of normal white blood cells. They grow faster than normal cells, and they don't stop growing when they should. Gradually, leukemia cells can outnumber the normal blood cells. This can lead to serious problems such as anemia, bleeding, and infections. Leukemia cells can also spread to the lymph nodes or other organs and cause swelling or pain. Leukemia may be acute or chronic. Acute leukemia gets worse very fast and may make you feel sick right away. Chronic leukemia gets worse slowly and may not cause symptoms for years. The type of leukemia also varies with the type of cells it affects. Leukemia is thought to start first from one abnormal cell. It happens so that certain vital genes which control how cells divide, multiply and die are damaged or altered. This makes the cell abnormal. If the abnormal cell survives it may multiply 'out of control' or survive a long time, and develop into leukemia. There are certain 'risk factors' which increase the chance that certain type of leukemia will develop such as, Radiation, past treatment with chemotherapy or other medicines that weaken the immune system, certain genetic disorders, the most widespread being Down's syndrome or also exposure to certain chemicals such as benzene.

2. The main symptoms include Anemia which can cause paleness, tiredness, breathlessness and other symptoms. The patient might encounter blood clotting problems due to low levels of platelets in the bloodstream which can cause easy bruising and other bleeding-related problems. The person becomes immensely susceptible to serious infections. The abnormal white blood cells do not protect against infection. Therefore, serious infections are more likely to develop. The abnormal cells may also build up in lymph glands and in the spleen. You may, therefore, develop swollen glands in various parts of the body, and develop an enlarged spleen. Other symptoms which may develop include pain in the bones or joints, persistent fever, and weight loss. The time to develop these symptoms after the disease starts varies. The treatment advised depends on the exact type of leukemia, and the stage it is at. For example, some types are usually treated as soon as possible with intensive chemotherapy. On the other hand, people in the early stages of the other types may not need any treatment as leukemia often progresses very slowly. Rungta Hospital is a multi-specialty hospital that provides amenities for early detection and treatment of leukemia and other types of cancer. We also are a neurosurgery hospital in Jaipur and offer various services like ophthalmology, plastic surgery, diabetic clinic and many others in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Address: Calgiri Road, Malviya Nagar, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India 302017 Phone: 0141-4039995, 0141-4039996 Mobile No. +91-9571122122 Website: http://rungtahospital.com/