Pain in breast is a commonly used term by patients for any kind of pain, aching or heaviness felt in the breasts. The commonest reason behind breast pain is the hormonal levels in the body. So, it is seen more frequently in premenopausal women. The cause of these painful breasts can be identified depending on its pattern.

The pain may be cyclical in nature that is occurring with every menstrual cycle. This pain is due to the hormonal changes in the body and is usually bilateral. The pain is felt more in the upper and outer part of the breast and is seen to disappear on its own once the menstrual cycle ends.

Another type of pain is non-cyclical. This type of pain is seen more commonly in the older age group and it does not hold any relation to the menstrual cycle and can be unilateral or bilateral. It is more localized and intense in nature. Common causes of this pain are abscess, fibro adenoma, breast cyst and breast cancer.

Common Causes of Breast Pain

Here are a few common reasons why women experience pain in their breasts:

• Benign breast tumors
• Cyst in breast
• Fibrocystic breast
• Breast cancer
• Acid reflux
• Breast feeding – due to overfilling of breasts
• Breast abscess
• Herpes zoster
• Angina Pectoris
• Costochondritis

The last three breast pain causes are related to the diseases of the heart and chest wall and their diagnosis needs to be carefully ruled out by history taking and examination.

Symptoms of Breast Pain

• The pain will be felt as an aching dull feeling in one or both breasts, mostly in the upper and outer quadrants
• Pain is cyclical and will be felt around the time of the menstrual cycle in both the breasts. This indicates a hormonal aetiology.
• Breast lumps single or multiple in the number
• Swelling
• Fever may be associated with mastitis. You will notice engorged, red and tender breasts which will be painful when touched.

What is Breast Cancer?

The common symptoms of breast pain should be differentiated from breast cancer symptoms. This can be done by self examination techniques which all premenopausal women should be aware of. Understanding these signs of breast cancer and differentiating them from other conditions is very important.

It is also good at this stage to understand how the signs and symptoms of breast cancer will present in the body so that it can lead to an early diagnosis. Know about the major breast cancer signs here:

• Discharge from the nipple
• Change in shape and size of one or both breasts
• Dimpling or change in the skin of the breast
• Lump or swelling felt in the armpit or within the breast
• Pain in the breast that is not related to the menstrual cycle.
• Nipple may be drawn inwards or develop cracks.
• Pain in the right breast or left breast (unilateral pain)
• Palpable lymph nodes in the axilla (armpit)

In case you notice any of these signs, remember to consult your doctor first and follow a proper medical examination to know about the various breast cancer stages and the treatments available.

Diagnosis of Breast Pain

Early diagnosis is the key to treating cases of breast cancer. So, every case of breast pain should be considered seriously to exclude this diagnosis.

History taking which involves details like side of breast affected, condition of the skin and the nipple, presence of discharge etc should be performed. This is followed by a thorough physical examination and palpation of the breasts with the fingers and palm of the hand to check for lumps, swelling and skin changes. Lymph nodes in the armpit are also checked for the same.

The diagnostic tests used to confirm the nature of breast disease are:

• Mammogram
• Ultra-sonography of the breast
• Biopsy

Treatment of Breast Pain

Cyclical breast pain related to the menses generally needs no treatment and it goes away as soon as the cycle ends. This type of pain disappears after the onset of menopause.

Non-cyclical pain which occurs due to abscess, infections etc is treated well with pain killers and systemic antibiotics.

Benign lump in breast is ruled out for malignancy and then surgically excised.

In case breast cancer is suspected, biopsy is carried out to confirm the diagnosis and chemotherapy or radiotherapy is the plan of treatment.

Tips for Patients with Breast Pain

1. Wear a well supported bra that is not too tight or loose.
2. During pregnancy, breast changes may give some amount of pain and heaviness. Wear a maternity bra that supports the growing breasts well.
3. Breast feeding mothers need to be encouraged to feed the baby till the breast is empty in order to avoid getting breast abscess.
4. Self examination of the breast should be taught to all women of the reproductive age group.

The post Breast Pain appeared first on All Health Site - Health Articles and News.

Lymph nodes are a part of the lymphatic system of the body. They are small bean shaped glands present throughout the body, either single or in clusters. They are the soldiers of the body and form an important first line of defense.

Their main function is to trap the bacteria and viruses from the lymph fluid which flows through them. They do not deal with removal of toxins from the body like the liver and kidney.

Physiology of the Lymphatic System

The lymph fluid present within the lymph node contains specialized white blood cells (WBCs) called lymphocytes which circulates in and out of the lymph fluid and the bloodstream. The bacteria and viruses circulating in the blood have antigens on their cell wall. In response to these antigens, the lymphocytes begin to secrete antibodies which target the antigens and kill the bacteria and virus. The lymphatic system drains into the major veins of the body.

In case the antigen load is very high as in case of a severe infection, the lymphocytes will activate the immune system outside the lymph nodes and this will lead to a generalized immune response in the body. When this happens, the lymph nodes become swollen and are felt like hard nodules under the skin. Their existence is identified after they swell up. The location of the enlarged lymph nodes is of much clinical importance.

Distribution of Lymph Nodes

There are some 500 – 700 lymph nodes throughout the body and they are identified by their distribution. Following are the lymph node locations in our body:

1. Axillary lymph nodes – the lymph nodes under arm
2. Cervical lymph nodes – the lymph nodes in neck region
3. Supraclavicular lymph nodes – the lymph nodes along the clavicle (collar bone)
4. Mesentric lymph nodes – the lymph nodes in lower abdomen
5. Mediastinal lymph nodes – the lymph nodes behind the sternum
6. Inguinal lymph nodes – the groin lymph nodes
7. Femoral lymph nodes – the lymph nodes in the upper thigh region

Clinical Significance

Lymph nodes get enlarged in response to infections, tumors and injury. The location where the swollen lymph nodes are felt, gives the probable diagnosis.

• The neck glands are commonly enlarged due to severe throat infections, infections of head and neck, cancer of the tongue etc.
• Lymph glands in the armpit are normally not palpable. If they are felt as hard, knotted swellings then breast cancer and lymphoma (lymph node cancer) needs to be ruled out.
• Inguinal lymph nodes in groin are enlarged in infections of the leg, injury, testicular cancer, melanoma, STDs etc.
• Supraclavicular glands swell up in diseases of the neck, lungs and breast.
• Mesentric glands located in the abdomen are enlarged in any GI tract cancer, infections etc.

The commonest lymph nodes to be affected are inguinal, cervical and axillary. If lymph nodes of two or more regions are swollen it is termed as Generalized Lymphadenopathy. It is seen in the following medical conditions:

1. Cancers like Hodgkin’s lymphoma, non Hodgkin’s lymphoma
2. AIDS – Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is caused by HIV virus which attacks the immune system of the body and makes the person immune compromised.
3. Syphillis
4. Bacterial infections caused by Streptococcus bacteria
5. Viral diseases like mumps, measles and rubella

Diagnosis and Treatment of Lymphadenopathy

In normal conditions, lymph nodes are not externally palpable. If they get infected and swollen then they are felt as hard, nodular, knotty often painful swellings beneath the skin. Diagnosis is done by palpation of the swollen nodes with the help of fingers and the lymph node pain. Knowing the location of lymph nodes gives us a fair idea of the region affected. When there is a tumor developing in the breast, the axillary group of lymph nodes will be inflamed. Lymphomas (cancer of the lymph nodes) generally present with generalized swollen nodes are not painful.

In case cancer is suspected, lymph node biopsy is done and the cells are microscopically studied to confirm the type of cancer (lymphatic cancer etc).

Treatment of lymph nodes is usually antibiotics. In mild infections, the lymph nodes return to their normal size as soon as the infection regresses. Viral diseases like AIDS need disease specific treatment in the form anti-retroviral drugs. In cases where cancer diagnosed, the condition is treated by surgery and the affected group of lymph nodes is also removed. This helps to stop the spread of cancerous cells which may get implanted in other organs by travelling through the lymphatic system.

The post Lymph Nodes appeared first on All Health Site - Health Articles and News.

The post Leukoplakia appeared first on All Health Site - Health Articles and News.

Synovial sarcoma, which is also known as malignant synovioma, is a soft-tissue sarcoma that affects the joints of the arms, neck or legs. It is a rare form of cancer affecting about 1 to 3 individuals for every one million in the population. Synovial sarcoma usually affects teenagers and young adults and is most prevalent among males than females.

Synovial sarcoma was thought to affect the synovium, which is the soft tissue found between the joints. However, it was soon discovered that the cells from which the sarcoma develops are not really related to the synovial tissues. The legs, particularly the knees are usually the most affected part followed by the arms. Less common locations for synovial sarcoma include the head, trunk, neck and the abdomen but there have also been cases in which the prostate, brain and heart have also been affected.

What Causes Synovial Sarcoma?

The causes for synovial sarcoma are not yet known but it has been linked with chromosomal translocation. This means that there has been an interchange between the SS18 gene on chromosome 18 and any of the 3 SSX genes on chromosome X. This fusion would bring about a mutant gene that is necessary for the development of the disease.

Signs and Symptoms

Synovial sarcoma may be asymptomatic during the initial stages of tumor growth which may lead to the delay in diagnosis and treatment of the tumor.

Signs and symptoms of synovial sarcoma may be dependent on the tumor location but generally include the following:

• A mass that may be swollen, tender or painful.
• Limited range of movement because of the tumor.
• Numbness and pressure because of the tumor pressing on the nerves.
• Difficulty in swallowing or breathing if the sarcoma is in the head or neck region.
• Possible alteration of the voice.
• Fatigue.

However, it may also be possible that a painless mass may develop or that the signs and symptoms of sarcoma may be mistaken as arthritis, bursitis or synovitis.

Diagnosis and Radiology

• Synovial sarcoma may be diagnosed through various imaging studies like radiographic examination, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT scan) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These imaging studies would be helpful in determining the size and location of the tumor.

• Biopsy of the tumor is the next step and is necessary to further analyze the sarcoma. A small tissue sample is extracted either by open biopsy or core needle biopsy. Open biopsy would require the creation of a small surgical incision to remove a tissue sample while core needle biopsy would make use of a large bore needle to extract the sample.

• Immunohistochemical analysis would also be utilized to ascertain the presence of certain antigen and antibody found in synovial sarcoma.

• Genetic testing would test for abnormality in a specific chromosome common among synovial sarcoma.

• Positive emission test scan of the whole body or computed tomography of certain body parts may need to be done once malignancy of the tumor has been established. This is done to detect metastasis in various body parts like the abdomen, chest and pelvis.

Important factors that need to be considered when establishing the diagnosis include the following:

• The size of the tumor and how invasive it is.
• Possible metastasis of the tumor to various body organs.
• Possible involvement of the lymph nodes.

Treatment for Synovial Sarcoma

Similar to other forms of malignancies, the primary modes of treatment for synovial sarcoma include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

• Surgery is the primary treatment indicated for synovial sarcoma to remove the tumor with clear margins as much as possible. A safety margin of healthy tissue is also removed to ensure that all cancer cells in the surrounding area are also removed. Surgery has a 20-70 percent chance of treating the condition.

• Conventional chemotherapy utilizes chemotherapeutic drugs in treating synovial sarcoma especially in cases with advanced metastasis. These drugs, which would include doxorubicin hydrochloride and ifosfamide, eradicate the tumor by reducing the number of microscopic cancer cells. However, it is not yet well established how effective chemotherapy is with synovial sarcoma although treatment with doxorubicin and ifosfamide has been shown to marginally improve some cases.

• Radiation therapy is another treatment option used to eradicate cancerous cells. This may be done prior or after the surgical removal of the tumor. However, like chemotherapy, the mechanism and benefits of radiotherapy is also still underway.

A patient should carefully discuss the treatment options, advantages and disadvantages of each treatment modality with the oncologist. Two option modalities may be necessary to fully eradiate the cancer cells. It is therefore best that a patient would discuss every possible issue or question in order to better understand the chosen treatment plan.

Prognosis and Recurrence

The prognosis for synovial sarcoma is dependent on a variety of factors including the tumor size, invasiveness, metastasis and involvement of the lymph nodes. Patients who are diagnosed early and with small tumors usually have a good prognosis. However, patients who have tumors greater than 5 cm have a greater risk for developing metastasis. Unfortunately, those who have profound or established metastasis, especially into the lungs, have a poor prognosis.

Synovial Sarcoma has the tendency to recur especially within the first two years after the initial treatment was undertaken. Half of these usually metastasize to other body parts like the lungs, bone marrow and the lymph nodes.

It is therefore important to have a physical check-up once abnormal masses may be noted to ensure early treatment and diagnosis of the disease. Early diagnosis and treatment would give the patient a better prognosis. Although rare, synovial sarcoma is a serious condition that needs prompt treatment. This can only be done with an early referral to an oncologist as soon as signs and symptoms may be noted. Each day wasted to delay treatment could be another day given to increase chances for metastasis. Synovial sarcoma should therefore be treated at the earliest possible time.

References:

http://sarcomahelp.org/synovial-sarcoma.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synovial_sarcoma

The post Synovial Sarcoma appeared first on All Health Site - Health Articles and News.

Testicular cancer is the disease condition where malignant cancer cells are noted in the testicles, the male’s gonads or sex glands and are often felt as painless lumps. These gonads are placed inside a sac (scrotum) and are responsible for the production and storage of sperm cells.  Additionally, they are the chief source of the male hormones, testosterone, that influence the maturity of the reproductive organs and the development of other physical characteristics in males.

Matched up to other cancer types, testicular cancer is quite rare but is considered to be the most common type afflicting American males between 15 and 34 years old. The cancer is classified into two forms, basing on the type of cells present: seminomas which account for 30% of the condition and non-seminomas, the most common type (70%). Early diagnosis helps make this cancer treatable but even if it has metastasized, treatment options are still easy compared to other types. Metastasis often occurs through the lymph nodes and blood.

Seminomas, made of undeveloped germ cells, are subdivided into: anaplastic, spermatocytic or classic. These cells develop slowly and are more localized in the testicles.

Non-seminomas would include embryonal carcinoma, choriocarcinoma, yolk sac tumors or teratoma. Testicular tumor cells may contain both types. These cells evolved from specialized mature germ cells and are more likely to be more damaging than the seminomas.

Symptoms of Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer symptoms and signs are not necessarily particular to the disease. A number of other conditions can cause them.  The first testicular cancer symptom is usually a painless swelling of either of the testicles or the presence of a painless lump the size of a pea. Men are urged to check their testicles regularly to detect the cancer early. Some of the men who have this problem are asymptomatic in the early stages. Testicular cancer symptoms and signs are usually detected accidentally during scheduled physical exams.

There are a number of testicular cancer cells (germ cell tumors) that can produce elevated concentrations of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) hormone that will stimulate breast development in men.  Blood tests can determine the levels of HcG in the blood and this is important especially in the diagnosis and staging of the cancer.

Even if the cancer cells have metastasized, about 25% of the male population who has this disease would experience any of the testicular cancer symptoms and signs before being diagnosed positive. The most frequent area for metastasis is the lymph nodes at the posterior portion of the abdomen thus a late testicular cancer symptom is lower back pain. If the cancers cells have reached the lungs, pulmonary symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, hemoptysis or chest pain are noticed.

Signs of Testicular Cancer

A summary of the testicular cancer signs that men should look out for are:

• A painless lump in one or both testicles which may be pea-sized or as large as an egg or marble
• Enlargement or a considerable shrinking of the testicle
• An alteration on the testicle’s consistency (hardness)
• Scrotum feels heavy
• Dull ache at the groin or hypogastric area
• An abrupt accumulation of fluid inside the scrotum
• Tenderness in the testicles or scrotum
• Enlargement or soreness of the breast

If most of these testicular cancer signs are felt for over two weeks, it is recommended that further diagnostic exams be made to ensure early detection of the disease.

How to check for testicular cancer

Testicular self-examination should be done monthly beginning at 15 years old. Checking for testicular cancer should be done regularly to allow men to become familiar with their body hence could detect changes early.

Checking for testicular cancer should be done after a warm shower or bath as heat would cause the scrotum to relax, making it much easier to detect any abnormalities.

To start checking for testicular cancer, try to stand before a mirror and check if there is any swelling on the skin of the scrotum. With both hands, inspect each testicle. Place the thumb on top while the middle and index fingers are placed underneath the testicle. Gently roll the testicle between these fingers. No pain should be felt when this is being done. Keep in mind that one of the testicles is normally larger than the other.

Next, try to locate the epididymis, the tube-like structure at the back of the testicle. This soft structure collects and moves the sperms. Some of the men would mistake this for a lump but cancerous lumps are usually located at the sides or front part of the testicles.

If you do find a lump or any testicular cancer signs, then have them checked by a doctor even if you are still doubtful. It is better to have it checked by a professional than hoping that it is not cancerous.

What does testicular cancer look like?

Histologically, the malignant testicular cancer cells have profuse whitish protoplasm rich in glycogen. The nuclei are irregular and large with prominent nucleoli or two. The largest part of testicular germ cell tumors has numerous chromosomes that are triploid or tetraploid. About 80% of these have an isochromosome 12p (the short arm).

Testicular Cancer Pictures

Picture 1 : Site of testicular cancer

Picture 2 : Seminoma of the testis

Causes of Testicular Cancer

What causes testicular cancer is still unknown. But there are people who are more prone to develop this type of cancer.

• Individuals with a positive history of testicular cancer in their family
• Diagnosed cancer in one of the testicle
• Smoking
• Cryptorchidism (undescended testes)
• Caucasian ( five times more in white men than in any other groups)
• Mumps affecting testes
• Congenital abnormalities such as inguinal hernia
• HIV
• Klinefelter’s syndrome —genetically underdeveloped testicles

Some researchers have suggested that infertility is one of the probable testicular cancer causes but this has not yet been established. There is no correlation between vasectomy, trauma or diet and testicular cancer.

A new research has suggested that taller men have a higher risk of developing testicular cancer. For every extra five centimeters (2 inches) in height, the risk increases by thirteen percent.

Testicular Cancer Statistics

According to the American Cancer Society, in 2010, approximately 8,480 American males were diagnosed with testicular cancer. It was estimated that around 350 of these men will die because of the disease, mostly from metastasis that were not successfully treated with radiation therapy, chemotherapy or surgery.

Most testicular cancer cases are from men between 15 and 54 years old. This is not common; in a man’s lifetime the probability of acquiring it would be around 1 in every 270 and the threat of dying because of it is about 1 in every 5,000.

In the US, it is estimated that 7,500 men each year, 625 men each month and 144 men each week will have testicular cancer. In the UK, around 2000 males are diagnosed to have this disease each year and every year, 70 men die due to this disease.

Testicular Cancer Prognosis

There has been a lot of progress in the battle against testicular cancer. In the 70s, around 90 percent of diagnosed patients with metastasis died because of the disease. However, in 1990, these numbers have gone down especially when chemotherapy drugs like Cisplatin were introduced. Now, almost 90% of the men with metastasized testicular cancer are cured and the survival rate has increased.

The outlook for this disease is good and the earlier it is diagnosed, the better are the chances of survival. Although there might recurrences of the disease, careful monitoring would help improve the chances of catching the disease before it can go out of hand. Statistics have shown that it is during the first year after treatment that the disease has a high probability of recurring.

Testicular Cancer Screening

A standard screening test for testicular cancer is not available. Most of the time, the presence of this disease are discovered by the men themselves through self-examinations or by accident. Occasionally, the problem is detected by a doctor during a routine physical exam.

Testicular Cancer Staging

Staging is a system of describing where the cancer has metastasized. Different diagnostic exams are used to accurately determine the stage of the testicular cancer. Identifying the stage would help the doctor plan the treatment care the patient will undergo and helps foresee the prognosis of the patient.

Two types of staging are done for testicular cancer: pathological staging and clinical staging. Clinical staging is based on the results of the diagnostic exams such as x-rays or CT scans. Pathological staging, on the other hand, is based on the microscopic evaluation of the cells removed through surgery.

The TNM system is often used to describe the stages. This system uses three different criteria: the location of the primary tumor, if the cancer has spread the surrounding lymph nodes and the area of metastasis.

Stage 1: the cancer is confined or localized at the testicles

• Stage IA : cancer is in the testicles and epididymis, and may have extended to the inner layer of the testicular membrane but all the tumor markers are within normal limits
• Stage IB: testicles, epididymis and the testicular lymph nodes or blood vessels; or to the outer layer of testicular membrane; or in the scrotum or spermatic cord. All tumor markers within normal limits
• Stage IC: found anywhere the spermatic cord, testicles or scrotum. All tumor markers slightly elevated or one marker is rather above normal.

Stage 2: the cancer has metastasized to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes (posterior portion of the abdomen just below the diaphragm and in between the two kidneys.

• Stage IIA: is anywhere inside  the spermatic cord, scrotum or testicle,  and has expanded up to five lymph nodes within the abdomen, none bigger than two centimeters.  Every tumor marker levels are either normal or a little above normal.
• Stage IIB: cancer is somewhere inside the scrotum, testicle or  spermatic cord; and either: has metastasized up to five lymph nodes within the abdomen; no less than one lymph node is bigger than two centimeters, however, none are bigger than five centimeters; or has metastasized to over five lymph nodes and the nodes are no bigger than five centimeters. Every tumor marker levels are either normal or a little above normal.
• Stage IIC:  cancer is somewhere inside the scrotum, testicle or  spermatic cord; and has metastasized to one lymph nodewithin the abdomen that is bigger than five centimeters. Every tumor marker levels are either normal or a little above normal

Stage 3: the cancer has metastasized to the remote sites including the brain, liver, bones and lungs. The tumor marker levels may range from normal to elevated.

Testicular Cancer Survival Rate

The rate at which these men with testicular cancer will survive five years from diagnosis and treatment is 95%. For men who have no signs of metastasis, the survival rate is increased to 99%. For those who are at stage 2 (metastasis to the posterior portion of the abdomen), survival rate is 96%.

Patients who are at good-risk stage 3 (more extensively spread), the survival rate is 90 to 94% while those at the intermediate-risk stage 3 have 79 to 83% survival rate and those at the poor-risk stage 3 group have an overall survival rate of 48 to 71%. Though the survival rate is quite low, these men are still curable.

These survival statistics should be cautiously interpreted since these results are based on the thousand diagnosed cases in the US every year.  The actual individual chances may vary.

Testicular Cancer Prevention

There is no definite approach in testicular cancer prevention since most of the risk factors are beyond a person’s influence. Several doctors would recommend regular self-examination of the testicles to identify the problem earlier on. Although, there are some who would not agree to this. Therefore, it is better to discuss this with the doctor.

References:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/testicularcancer.html

http://www.medicinenet.com/testicular_cancer/article.htm

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/testicular-cancer/DS00046

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/in_depth/cancer/testicularcancer1.shtml

The post Testicular Cancer appeared first on All Health Site - Health Articles and News.

The adrenal glands are triangularly shaped endocrine glands positioned on top of the kidneys. These glands consist of a medulla that is surrounded by a cortex. The medulla (inner) is the one responsible for the production of the hormones norepinephrine and epinephrine. The cortex (outer), on the other hand, produces the glucocorticoids hormones such as cortisol, androgens (testosterone) and mineralocorticoid hormones such as aldosterone (for fluid and electrolyte balance).

These suprarenal glands are considered to be the anti-stress glands of the system. The hormones they produce allow the body to deal with stress. These tiny glands would determine the energy of a person’s response to the changes in the external and internal environment.

Adrenal hormones would influence the body’s every important physiological processes. They affect the body’s consumption of fats and carbohydrates, the conversion of protein and fats into usable energy, the allocation of stored fats, regulation of normal blood sugar and the proper functioning of the gastrointestinal and cardiovascular systems. The anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory activity of the hormones produced by this tiny gland protects the individual from allergic and other negative reactions to drugs, foods, alcohol and other environmental allergens.

After menopause, the suprarenal glands slowly become the main source of sex hormones for women. These hormones have effects on the sex drive and the inclination for weight gain; and even to the tendency to acquire certain diseases. They also influence the person’s capacity to react to chronic illnesses and the more chronic it is, the more critical the response of these glands would be.

What is Pheochromocytoma

Adrenal gland tumor, specifically at the medulla is called pheochromocytoma. This condition would result to excessive secretion of catecholamines (norepinephrine and epinephrine), the hormones that influence metabolism, blood pressure and heart rate. Too much catecholamine secretion could trigger the onset of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias and hypertension.

About eight hundred new cases are diagnosed every year in the United States. Only about 10 to 15 percent of pheochromocytomas are cancerous with the possibility to metastasize. This adrenal gland problem occurs at any age but is most common at ages 30 to 40 years. Some individuals are asymptomatic and a retrospective analysis made by Mayo Clinic showed that in fifty percent of the cases, the diagnosis was done during autopsy.

Pheochromocytoma Symptoms

Symptoms of pheochromocytoma are basically the result of the excessive secretion of catecholamines in the system and therefore would include:

• Paroxysmal hypertension
• Severe headache
• Tachycardia
• Nervousness or anxiety
• Diaphoresis
• Hand tremors or tingling sensation at the tip of the fingers
• Epigastric pain
• Flank pain
• Nausea with no vomiting
• Loss of weight
• Intolerance to heat
• Irritability
• Pallor
• Insomnia
• Hyperglycemia due to the lipolysis stimulation, gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis
• Constipation
• Café au lait spots – patches of pale to dark brown skin pigmentation (1 to 10 mm) more prominent at the axilla and groin.
• Erythrocytosis

These symptoms of pheochromocytoma may present at irregular intervals and would frequently last for fifteen to twenty minutes. As the tumor gets bigger, the attacks may increase in length, frequency and severity.

Pheochromocytoma Diagnosis

Most individuals are asymptomatic but when the physician would find some symptoms of pheochromocytoma such as prominent elevation of vital signs during physical exam, then several diagnostic tests are to be done.

Pheochromocytoma Tests

Typical tests on hand to detect pheochromocytoma would include:

• The 24-Hour Urine metanephrines and catecholamines test would quantify the various hormonal compounds secreted by the adrenal glands. Increasing intermittent excretion would indicate the presence of the disease.
• Serum catecholamines
• I-MIBG and CT scans would help determine the location of the tumor.
• MRI (preferred imaging diagnostic test)
• PET Scan
• Adrenal Biopsy

Serum metanephrine tests have 96% sensitivity but 85% specificity for pheochromocytoma detection while the 24-hour urine collection has 87.5% sensitivity and 99.7% specificity. Major stress and some drugs such as antidepressants would cause false elevation of metanephrines in the urine.

Pheochromocytoma Treatment

The treatment of choice for this condition is surgical resection of tumor. However, surgery is usually delayed until the catecholamine levels are controlled with drugs. Elevated levels of these hormones during the surgical procedure can be very dangerous. Phenoxybenzamine is initiated to stop the secretion of catecholamines. As soon as this is achieved, alpha-blockers are given to promote relaxation of muscles that help keep small blood vessels open by counteracting the effects of norephinephrine on these vessels thus lowering the blood pressure. Beta-blockers are also given to decrease heart rate and contractility of the heart muscles by slowing the nerve impulses travelling to the organ.

If the tumor has metastasized, then chemotherapy is started through oral or intravenous route. Other options include radiation therapy which uses high-energy X-rays to shrink tumors and kill the cancer cells or radioisotope therapy which uses I-MIBG in high doses to shrink the tumors.

Pheochromocytoma Workup

The standard workup to confirm pheochromocytoma diagnosis is measuring the following urinary catecholamines plus their metabolites for 24 hours:

• Epinephrine
• Norepinephrine
• Dopamine
• Metanephrine
• Homovanillic acid
• Vanillymandelic acid

Collection should be done while the patient is not taking any medications or recent exposure to any radiographic contrast medium. Patient should be at relaxed –physically and emotionally. Any food and medications that would affect the result of the test is avoided such as tea, coffee, cocoa, chocolate, vanilla, bananas, and citrus fruits.

Other laboratory workups include CBC (to determine presence of infection), electrolytes, BUN, creatinine and glucose levels, serum calcium levels, and urinalysis (+protein would indicate hypertension). Levels of serum intact PTH is also checked to exclude primary hyperparathyroidism.

ECG findings may show abnormalities such as tachycardia, arrhythmias and left ventricular hypertrophy. CT scans of the pancreas and kidneys are also done to rule out cysts.

Genetic testing can also be carried out if there is positive family history, multifocal and specific tumor locations or manifestation of symptoms at a young age.

Pheochromocytoma Complications

Elevated blood pressure due to pheochromocytoma exerts too much force on the arterial walls which could cause significant harm to the vital organs they supply. The longer this keeps on, the bigger the damage it would bring about. Untreated blood pressure elevation could cause the following complications:

• Stroke
• Heart failure
• Sinus tachycardia
• Peripheral vasodilation
• Acute respiratory disease
• Kidney failure
• Psychosis
• Seizures
• Impaired vision
• Focal myocarditis
• Acute hypertensive crisis
• Early death

Chronic exposure to the catecholamines would increase the risk of diabetes, congestive heart failure and heart muscle damage.

Pheochromocytoma Surgery

Once these are controlled, then surgery (adrenalectomy) is performed to remove the tumor. Depending on the location and size of the tumor, an alternative procedure – laparoscopic surgery- can be done. The surgical procedure entails the insertion of a scope in a small incision to help the doctor visualize the abdomen while another small incision is made to allow the passage of the surgical instrument into the abdominal cavity. This would result to a more rapid recovery compared to the traditional surgery.

Studies have also shown that patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery showed lesser hypertensive episodes and need for post-op analgesics. If performed by an experienced surgeon, this surgical approach is considered to be the choice for pheochromocytoma.

Pheochromocytoma Prognosis

Most patients with benign tumors surgically removed have good prognosis, some 95 percent are still alive after five years but there are cases (less than ten percent) when the tumors would reappear. The levels of the catecholamines would go back to normal following surgery. In general, patients with benign localized tumors that were surgically removed have good outcomes.

Below fifty percent of those with cancerous tumors that has metastasized to the liver, lungs or bones are alive later than 5 years. Pregnant patients with this disease condition have poor outcome (including the fetus) with a mortality rate of approximately fifty percent.

References :

http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/000340.htm

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/124059-overview

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/pheochromocytoma.html

http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/sec13/ch164/ch164f.html

The post Pheochromocytoma appeared first on All Health Site - Health Articles and News.

The blood forming cells of the bone marrow begins to form cancer when this disease of leukemia affects them. The bone marrow cells begin to grow abnormally in quantity resulting in abundant amount of white blood cells or leukocytes that usually spread to other parts of the body.

This comes to known when the affected person is undergoing leukemia diagnosis. Irrelevant of sex, it affects both male, female and children.

According to clinical and pathological conditions it is divided in to two types. One is called acute and another one is called chronic.

In acute type, the normal cell forming tendency of the bone marrow is altered and bone marrow loses its capacity to produce mature cells. But there forms the rapid immature cell and this immature cells are produced and accumulated. These accumulated cells are sent to blood stream. And the activity of immature cell production becomes endless. This type of condition is common in children and they should be advised to go for specific leukemia diagnosis and treatment.

Against acute type, in chronic type the old and matured cells are affected. The process of abnormal cell division occurs only in old and matured cells. Unlike acute type, in chronic type the progression of the disease is slow and it takes from months to year for appearance and it can be confirmed only during leukemia diagnosis. But as in acute type, the chronic type also results in increased quantity of white blood cells. Unlike acute type, in chronic type only old people are affected normally.

Lymphocytic leukemia is the type in which the newly forming lymphocyte is affected. This affection results in complete damage to the body’s natural immunity system and the body is then unable to fight against any infection.  This lymphocytic leukemia is further divided in to acute and chronic type. When compared to the year 1990, the recent year drug combination that has been used is having successful results and it is informed that there is 91 to 95 percent response rate and there is 41 to 70 percent rate of complete response.

Easy leukemia diagnosis are available now to confirm the chronic lymphocytic leukemia against past. In the past it was the only way for diagnosing CLL is taking the bone marrow biopsy. But now the blood test called cytometry is enough to identify the presence of cancerous blood cells.

Informative leukemia diagnosis:

several diagnostic tests are available now and it gives more information about the disease and it helps in treating the cancer. A simple blood test now will tell the specific genes, proteins or chromosomes of the cancerous cells and it will immediately predict the aggressiveness of the disease and about the treatment needed. This finding of high and low risk factor will help in deciding for a longer or a shorter period treatment.

Myelogenous leukemia affects the cells of the bone marrow that actually forming in to white cells, red blood cells and platelets. This myelogenous leukemia also divided again in to acute and chronic type.

Leukemia Symptoms :

The total damage of the platelet causes easy bleeding anywhere of the body with pinprick bleeding. The blood clotting mechanism of the body is damaged due to the affection of the platelet. It is well known factor that the white blood cells are totally responsible for fighting against infections and the damage occurred to white blood cells results in easier and frequent infection of the affected person and even affected by life threatening infection like pneumonia. The number of red blood cells is reduced and thereby anemia develops and dyspenia arises. Fever, excess sweating, weight loss and fatigue are common in this leukemic condition.

Risk factors :

Exposure to high level radiation may cause both lymphocytic and myeloid leukemia. Atomic bomb explosion and high level radiation used in medical treatment may cause leukemia. Frequent exposure to X-ray is also a cause for leukemia. Tobacco of any form, chemicals like benzene, certain hair dyes, certain viruses like Human T-lymphotropic virus, chromosomal abnormalities and genetic predisposition are most important risk factor for the development of the disease.

Leukemia diagnosis are made by collecting personal and family history first. Then the physical examination is done for finding out swollen lymph nodes, spleen, and liver. The complete blood count is taken to find out the high level white blood cells and low level platelet and hemoglobin. These indicated high and low levels are common symptoms in leukemia. To confirm the diagnosis the bone marrow biopsy is done. Other tests like cytogenetics, spinal tap and chest X-ray are also useful in finding the leukemia .

According to the type and severity of the disease, several types of treatment are available. Chemotherapy, biological therapy, targeted therapy, radiation therapy and stem cell transplant are the important therapies that are used to cure the disease.

The post Leukemia Diagnosis and Treatment appeared first on All Health Site - Health Articles and News.

What are the signs and symptoms of Leukemia?

Leukemia symptoms vary depending on the type of leukemia. [1] The four major types of leukemia are:

• Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML}
• Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
• Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)

There are numerous versions of each of these types of leukemia, some of which require different treatment. This is discussed in a separate post. See Types of Leukemia.

Apart from this, the signs of leukemia also differ based on other factors like age of the infected person and the cause.  Though not all patients experience the same kind of symptoms because the signs differ for each case of leukemia. There are some similarities.

Common signs and leukemia symptoms include:

• frequent infection,
• fever,
• cold,
• chills,
• loss of appetite and weight,
• abdominal pain,
• tender or swollen lymph nodes,
• malaise and
• frequent pain in bones and joints.

Early Symptoms of Leukemia

The first leukemia symptoms are usually non specific and vague.

The early signs of leukemia differ in each person, though most of them experience common flu-like symptoms.  In addition to those general Leukemia symptoms noted above, the patient may have small red spots under the skin and a swollen liver or spleen. Sometimes they have bleeding gums. A normal cut or bruise is likely to have excess bleeding. The patients exhibit swollen lymph nodes, liver and spleen along with little red spots under the skin. The loss of red blood cells result in anemia. That and excessive sweating are both early signs that call for a diagnosis by a physician.

Childhood Leukemia Symptoms

• Children with leukemia are more susceptible to infection. Often antibiotics for other routine childhood illnesses are not effective. That is because leukemia is immune to antibiotics.
• Ordinary bruises, scratches or cuts are noticed more than usual.  In case of bleeding, the blood doesn’t stop quickly.
• A child with pain in joints and bones may have leukemia cells that have begun to deposit in those areas.
• Another early symptom of leukemia in children is the loss of appetite and weight-reduction for no known cause.
• Other commonly noticed symptoms in children include vomiting, headaches and uncontrolled fits along with skin reactions. In some cases, there is an enlargement in the abdominal area because leukemia causes distention in the spleen and the liver which are located in the abdomen.

Leukemia Symptoms in Adults

Leukemia symptoms in adults are more or less similar to those noticed in children. These include the same flu-like indications of frequent infection, fever, cold and chills, and fatigue as noted above.
Pain in bones and joints is more severe than in children. There is a loss of appetite, weight loss and abdominal pain due to expansion of spleen and liver. The lymph nodes turn tender and swollen. Bruises and cuts are also noticed at the first provocation.

When leukemia spreads to the brain, the adult is likely to have blurred vision, vomiting and difficulty with balancing.

Both men and women are likely to have shortness of breath, frequent and lengthy coughing along with suffocation as leukemia symptoms.

The symptoms of leukemia are seen in places where these cells accumulate or are deposited. The characteristic symptoms will be dependent on this. Leukemia can be chronic or acute type and can be diagnosed with regular blood tests.

Leukemia can be caused by radiation exposure or due to chain smoking or exposure to excessive amounts of smoke.

Acute leukemia symptoms are headaches, vomiting, confusion, loss of muscle control, or seizures. They also affect other parts of the body like digestive tract, kidneys, lungs, heart or testes.  The precise leukemia symptoms will be dependent on which of these regions are affected.

Common Symptoms of Chronic Leukemia or Acute Leukemia

• Swollen lymph nodes (especially in the neck or armpit) can be painful. Lymph nodes are where blood cleanses itself and it can drain the excess leukemic cells into these regions. This will result in swelling and inflammation and makes these lymph nodes prone to infections and lymphitis.

• Fevers or night sweats

• Frequent infections – this is because the number of increased white blood cells are immature and do not have the ability to fight bacterial and viral infections efficiently as under normal conditions. The accumulation of these immature white blood cells in the bone marrow will also result in reduction of bone marrow cells required for the synthesis of blood platelets. Hence, there will be excessive bleeding or development of pinprick bleeding (petechiae) due to a disturbance in the blood clotting process resulting in malformed blood clots, and thus one can frequently see purple patches of blood clots.

• Feeling weak or tired

• Bleeding and bruising easily (bleeding gums, purplish patches in the skin, or tiny red spots under the skin

• Swelling or discomfort in the abdomen causing pain that may result in loss of appetite and weight

• Weight loss for no reason

• Pain in the bones and joints because of cell proliferation in the bone marrow

• Unexplained fevers

• Blurred vision

• Balance problems

• Shortness of breath or dyspnea when the cells accumulate in the chest resulting in pain and difficulty in breathing.  Seek  immediate medical attention

• Loss of muscle control and seizures

• Anemia – there will be reduction in the number of red blood cells and platelets. As a result, there will be a reduction in the ability to carry oxygen which leads to a number of other related symptoms.

Many of these symptoms are also common for other infections too. See the doctor to get a blood test.  The good thing about leukemia is that a simple blood test can help you to diagnose and respond appropriately.

The difference between acute and chronic leukemia is in acute leukemia the symptoms are diagnosed immediately and easily.  However, in chronic leukemia the symptoms do not appear until the disease is diagnosed until the later stages of the cancer in the blood . In fact, researchers have learned that six years or more prior to a diagnosis, abnormal white blood cells may be found in blood samples of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. [5]

When the condition is not visible in a normal blood smear test, it can occur silently within the bone marrow. At a later stage it will be noticeable as cancer. That describes chronic leukemia.

Now let us see more in detail about the different types of leukemia and its associated symptoms :

Acute Leukemia Symptoms

Acute Leukemia will be of two types – acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Both of the acute types of leukemia, ALL and AML, are more aggressive and progress faster than the other types. [6]

Most of acute leukemia symptoms are caused by low levels of normal blood cells. It happens when there is an overcrowding of the blood-forming bone marrow by leukemia cells.

Acute leukemia spreads rapidly among  primitive cells making these blood cells incapable of carrying out normal functions. This is why acute leukemia symptoms are seen at the earlier stages. Hence, most of the common signs of leukemia are seen in patients with acute leukemia including fatigue, malaise, abnormal bleeding, abdominal pain, bone or joint pains, weakness, excessive bruising and reduced exercise tolerance.

Chronic Leukemia Symptoms

Chronic Leukemia also has two types- chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CLM).

Chronic leukemia symptoms develop slowly unlike acute forms of cancer. Chronic leukemia  symptoms often resemble various less serious medical conditions. Some of the signs noticed are fatigue, fever, unexplained weight loss and night sweats. Other symptoms include heightened rates of infection, easy bruising and severe bleeding.

The spleen enlarges as the abnormal white blood cells  accumulate causing splenomegaly. This results in abdominal discomfort and the patient feels full after eating even small amounts of food.

Chronic leukemia causes leucostatis due to abnormally high white blood cell levels resulting in headaches, confusion and dizziness. This can also affect the lungs and heart.

Insufficient amounts of platelets lead to easy bruising and bleeding because platelets are responsible for clotting blood.

Another symptom of chronic leukemia is the development of hypogammaglobulinemia which affects the immune system. In this, the level of gamma globulin antibodies decreases and thus reduces the effectiveness of the body to the fight against infection.

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Symptoms

In patients suffering from chronic myeloid leukemia symptoms you are likely to see these signs at a later stage:

High white blood cell level in blood and bone marrow, night sweats, fever, headache, fatigue , shortness of blood, pale skin, easy bruising, infection, bleeding, bone and joint pains, fever, enlarged spleen and bleeding problems.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Symptoms

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is seen when the lymphocytes lose their normal ability to die and start accumulating. The only symptoms most patients have at this time is an increase

Patients notice fatigue or enlargement of lymph nodes and fullness in the abdomen due to an enlarged spleen.

When chronic lymphocytic leukemia reaches an advanced level, it can cause anemia due to low blood counts. The patient’s risk of infection increases due to low production of antibodies that help fight bacteria.

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Symptoms

Early chronic myelogenous leukemia symptoms are fatigue, fever, excessive sweating and fullness in the abdomen due to an enlarged spleen. In the later stages, the blood count decreases considerably and the patient experiences high fever along with bone and joint pains. The enlargement of the spleen turns very painful.

Chronic leukemia symptoms  occur only in the later stage after the onset of cancer in the blood and are not easily diagnosable until you go for a check-up of some infection that will require blood tests. Once the doctor suspects leukemia, he/she will continuously check for leukemic symptoms with continuous blood tests.

Conclusion

After studying the symptoms observed in various types of cancers and in different age groups, we can deduce that most of these are quite similar to each other. Few symptoms are more severe in one case than other. These symptoms are quite common and can be mistaken for other illnesses. That is precisely why a doctor’s advice and proper diagnosis becomes necessary to fight leukemia.[4]

Treatment for Leukemia

Throughout all of this discussion of the different types of leukemia that exist in children and adults, let us not forget that it can be treated. See Treatments for Leukemia.

References

1. http://www.webmd.com/cancer/tc/leukemia-symptoms
2. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/leukemia/DS00351/DSECTION=symptoms
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leukimia
4. http://lymphoma.about.com/od/symptoms/qt/Leukemia-Signs-And-Symptoms.htm
5. http://nihseniorhealth.gov/leukemia/symptomsanddiagnosis/01.html
6. http://www.cancercenter.com/leukemia/leukemia-symptoms.cfm

The post Leukemia Symptoms and Signs appeared first on All Health Site - Health Articles and News.

LEUKEMIA – the word derived from Greek word. Leukos means white and aima means blood. Normally the blood forming cells are affected by this disease.

It is an abnormal growth of cells that usually begins at bone marrow and results in large quantity of white blood cells or it is characterized by abnormal increase in leukocytes-(white blood cells) and eventually spread to other parts of the body. This condition is commonly developed in all male, female and children.

Classification:

Pathological and clinical condition of this disease decides the classification in to two major types of leukemia. They are called acute and chronic type.

Acute type of leukemia:

In the beginning of this condition, the normal function of the bone marrow is disturbed and the bone marrow is unable to produce healthy blood cells before which huge quantity of immature blood cells are produced and due to speedy increase, production and accumulation the produced immature blood cells are taken to blood stream immediately. The speedy mechanism of production of these immature cells is not stopped. This acute type of leukemia is to be treated at once. This condition is commonly seen in children.

Chronic type of leukemia:

In this condition, normally the old cells are affected. The abnormal cells division occurs only in matured old cells. The progression is slow and it may take so many number of days, months and even years. But as in the case of acute type, this chronic type also results in formation of abundance of abnormal white blood cells. Old people are commonly affected by this type of leukemia.

The classification again divided in to lymphocytic and myelogenous. Lymphocytic again sub divided in to acute and chronic. Myelogenous again sub divided in to acute and chronic. This classification is made only on the basis of the type of cells that have been affected.

Lymphocytic leukemia is the cancerous growth that affects the newly forming lymphocyte of the bone marrow. The affection of this lymphocyte results in complete damage to the system of immunity. This is further divided in to acute and chronic type.

Myelogenous lekemias are the cancerous growth that affects the transforming marrow cells in to platelets, red blood cells and white cells. These are further divided in to acute and chronic type.

Symptoms:

Bleeding occurs easily due to damage of the platelets. The blood clotting mechanism is upset and bleeding tendency develops with pinprick bleeds. White blood cells are responsible for fighting against any infection to save the life. But leukemia affects the entire white blood cells and results in failure to protect the life from pathogens. This causes several severe infections from tonsils to life threatening diseases like pneumonia. Anemia and dyspenia are common due to reduction in the count of red blood cells. Weight loss, fever, excess sweating and fatigue are very common in this condition.  See also Symptoms of Leukemia.

Causes:

Tobacco, certain viruses (Ex. Human T-lymphotropic virus), certain chemicals like benzene, hair dyes, genetic predisposition and chromosomal abnormalities are most important causes for the development of this disease.

Treatment:

Treatment is given in most types of leukemia with medications. Multi drugs are used with chemotherapy. Radiation is also given in some forms of leukemia. Some leukemias are treated only with bone marrow transplantations.

The post What is Leukemia? appeared first on All Health Site - Health Articles and News.

Leukemia – the word is derived from Greek meaning white (leu) and blood (kemi). It denotes the cancer of the blood or it refers the cancer of the bone marrow commonly with increased leukocytes (white blood cells). The word leukemia covers large group of diseases called hematological neoplasms.

On the basis of clinical and pathological conditions, the leukemia is divided in to two groups namely acute and chronic type.

Acute leukemia:

In the bone marrow, there is a speedy increase in the immature blood cells and there are only a few possibilities for the bone marrow to produce healthy blood cells under this condition.

This rapid increase, progression and accumulation cause the immature cells to spill over in to blood stream and other organs. This type is commonly found in children and requires immediate treatment. The division of these immature cells does not stop.

Chronic leukemia:

The abnormal cell division happens in mature, old cells. The growth is slow; it takes months or years to progress. These cells are produced at a higher rate than normal ones and there are increased abnormal white blood cells. Normally this type commonly affects the older people.

Further, this disease is divided in to two and again in to four types.

1. Lympphocytic–  a) acute and b) chronic
2. myelogenous –   a) acute and b) chronic

These are classified on the basis of the cells affected.

Lymphocytic leukemia is also called as lymphoblastic. In this type, the cancerous changes occur in the newly forming lymphocyte in the bone marrow which is going to look after the immune system. The common lymphocyte that is affected is called B cell. These are further divided in to acute and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Myelogenous leukemias are also called as myeloid. Some of marrow cells are transforming in to red blood cells, platelets and white cells. These growing cells are affected and the cancerous changes happen in these types of cells. These are further divided in to acute and chronic myelogenous leukemia.

From these major divisions there are many subdivisions are formed including hairy cell and T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia.

Acute lymphocytic leukemia:  It is further divided in to many subdivisions including precursor B acute and precursor T acute lymphocytic leukemia, acute biphenotypic and Burkitt’s leukemia. Normally this condition is occurred in children and also in the old. Survival rate depends of the age group. The higher rate is seen young children and lower rate is seen in the aged. The treatment includes chemo and radiation therapy.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia:

Normally it does not occur in young children. But it is seen in young adult and adult after 55 years. The survival rate is about 75 % and it is almost up to 5 years after the affection. It is also mostly affecting only men. There is no cure for this disease and survival is achieved by controlling the disease by effective treatment. Among this class the most serious type is called B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia.

Acute myelogenous leukemia:

The subtypes include acute megakaryoblastic leukemia, acute promyelocytic leukemia, and acute myeloblastic leukemia. These forms are commonly seen in adults and men. Women and children are rarely affected. Chemotherapy effectively administered for survival. 40% survival is achieved for five years.

Chronic myelogenous leukemia:

The subtype includes chronic monocytic leukemia and it occurs almost in adults and rarely in children. The treatment is given with Gleevec. The five year survival rate is 90%.

Hairy cell leukemia – Survival is achieved from 90 to 100% by treatment and this condition is easily treated but this also has no cure. Mostly adult men are affected and there is no evidence of affection in young children.

T-PLL – T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia is affecting only T-cells and it does not affect the B-cell. Mostly it affects only the adult men rather than women. But this disease is only rate type but very aggressive type.

Large granular lymphocytic leukemia is very rare and slowly progressing type. It in involves T cell or NK cells.

The post Types of Leukemia appeared first on All Health Site - Health Articles and News.