Blood and bone marrow cancer is leukemia, and at the very beginning let’s get to know what bone marrow is. It represents the spongy bone tissue, and the role of the bone marrow is to produce blood cells: white and red blood cells as well as platelets. White blood cells are important for our body because they help the body fight against infections, while red blood cells are important because they carry oxygen from the lungs to all our organs in the body. On the other hand, platelets help our blood clot to control bleeding.

The process called stratification is that the stem cells in the bone marrow create new cells to further develop into white and red blood cells or platelets in certain exact amounts.

The risk category is adults between 50 and 70 years of age, but lately more and more younger people are getting leukemia.

At the moment when leukemia occurs, the bone marrow in our body begins to create immature white blood cells, which are also called „blasts“, and they are literally useless and greatly outnumber (in number, first of all) the normal cells that prevent their proper functioning.

Acute leukemias are malignant diseases of the hematopoietic system. They are characterized by the abnormal reproduction of some of the cells of the lymphoid or myeloid lineage, an increase in the number of white blood cells in the peripheral blood and an increase in the mass of leukocytes in the body. One of the most common forms is acute lymphocytic leukemia. It progresses very quickly and can occur in both adults and children. It is very difficult to diagnose, and early symptoms can be similar to the flu or other common illnesses. Leukemias account for 10% of cancers, and acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most common malignant disease in children. Annually, approximately 13 people per 100,000 inhabitants fall ill with various forms of leukemia.

Anemia, granulocytopenia and thrombocytopenia occur as a consequence of acute lymphocytic leukemia. Anemia causes pallor of the skin , and patients complain of weakness, difficulty breathing, easy fatigue and dizziness. If there is an enlarged spleen, anemia is partly a consequence of increased breakdown of erythrocytes in the enlarged spleen. In the elderly, it can be manifested by the appearance of angina pectoris or pulmonary edema. In most cases, non-specific symptoms such as elevated body temperature, bone or joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, easy bruising, bleeding gums, nosebleeds may occur.

The diagnosis is made by examination of a smear of periphema blood and a cytological examination of the bone marrow. The finding of a large number of blasts in the peripheral blood, anemia and thrombocytopenia is in favor of acute leukemia. The diagnosis is confirmed by examining the bone marrow and finding more than 30% blasts in it.

Anemia , granulocytopenia and thrombocytopenia are present in the peripheral blood . The number of leukocytes can be reduced, normal or increased. If the blood test results show abnormalities, the doctor may perform a bone marrow biopsy. He may also perform a spinal tap and take a sample of the cerebrospinal fluid. The doctor looks at the fluid under a microscope to determine if leukemia cells are present, only then can he tell what kind of leukemia it is and plan the best possible treatment.

The possibility of cure depends on the appearance of the leukemia cells under the microscope, how far the leukemia has spread, the age of the patient and his general state of health. The goal of treatment is remission of the malignant tumor, and this is achieved when the peripheral blood and bone marrow findings are normal. Acute lymphocytic leukemia is treated with a combination of chemotherapy and cytostatics.

In most cases, the cause of leukemia is unknown, so it is difficult to find a proper preventive mode. However, minimal exposure to poisons, radiation and chemicals is advised, as well as proper nutrition in order to improve the body’s immune response to harmful agents.