What is adult leukemia?

Leukemia or blood cancer affects both adults and children in different natures of onset and leukemia types as well. Leukemia in adults may vary greatly compared to leukemia occurring in children. Adult onset leukemia has been ruled out from many different contributing factors in line with adult age. The leukemia may be acquired from some factors while growing up. Hereditary factors are seldom pointed out as the main cause of leukemia symptoms in adults. Environmental factors such as exposure to carcinogens are the common factors where doctors evaluate the onset of leukemia from.

Adult Myeloid Leukemia

Adult acute leukemia in the myeloid type is the most common leukemia type that occurs in adults in terms of the myeloid base. But over- all, the most common type of leukemia in adults is the chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Adult myeloid leukemia or acute myelogenous leukemia often affects adults at the median age range of 65. As stated earlier, there are very few cases of leukemia arising from genetic or hereditary factors. Acute myelogenous leukemia is experienced only by adults. The main etiology of acute myelogenous leukemia is regarded to the exposure of carcinogens or cancer- causing agents. Specifically, carcinogens come from a substance called benzene, cigarette smoke or nicotine and radiation. Acute myeloid leukemia has risk factors that are sometimes inevitable. One risk factor is aging and the second factor is existing or pre- leukemic disorders. Pre- leukemic disorders are often brought by previous chemotherapy treatments and other blood- related disorders, which could have possibly contributed to the full growth of leukemia cells.

Symptoms in Adult Leukemia

Adult leukemia is usually manifested by the following symptoms: fatigue, anemia, fever, bleeding and infection. The most prominent symptom would be high grade and recurring fever for days. Fever means a sign of a weakening immune system. The population of white blood cells significantly increase in number and malfunction at that. Fever is a kind of infection and it occurs due to unguarded nature from foreign bodies such as bacteria and viruses.

Treatments for Adult Leukemia

There are several treatments for acute leukemia including several clinical tests and laboratory procedures. The initial laboratory method that rules out leukemia is a CBC or a complete blood count. A complete blood count distinguishes a relative number presentation of all blood cells. They are microscopically identified and counted as well. In persons with leukemia, the WBC or white blood cell count is more than the normal range. Some types of white blood cells can also be identified through deformations and abnormal physical attributes.

Bone Marrow Transplantation and Chemotherapy

A bone marrow examination is often done to persons suspected of leukemia. The bone marrow is where the blood cells grow. The procedure is often confirmed with clinical microscopy that could identify some abnormalities of blood cell production in the bone marrow. Chemotherapy is the most common treatment for leukemia and other types of carcinoma. Chemotherapy involves the process of induction which comes with the administration of chemotherapy drugs such as anthracycline and anti- nauseatic drugs. Persons with leukemia are often diagnosed with low platelet counts which create bruises and hemetomas. The process of consolidation on the other hand is a series of chemotherapy sessions if the patient is found to have remitted the disease.