What happens to your body when you have leukemia?
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Benjamin Wright
Works at the International Seabed Authority, Lives in Kingston, Jamaica.
As a hematologist, I specialize in the study and treatment of blood and blood-related disorders, including leukemia. When a person has leukemia, several changes occur within their body due to the disease's impact on the blood and bone marrow.
Leukemia is a type of cancer that originates in the bone marrow, which is the soft tissue inside bones where blood cells are produced. In a healthy individual, the bone marrow makes new blood cells, including red blood cells (which carry oxygen), white blood cells (which fight infection), and platelets (which help blood to clot). However, in a person with leukemia, the bone marrow starts to produce abnormal white blood cells, known as leukemia cells.
Here's what happens step by step:
1. Overproduction of Abnormal Cells: The bone marrow produces too many abnormal white blood cells that do not function properly. These cells are leukemia cells.
2. Crowding Out Healthy Cells: Because these leukemia cells are not effective at fighting infections, they can also crowd out the healthy blood cells in the bone marrow.
3. Inability to Fight Infections: With fewer healthy white blood cells, the body becomes more susceptible to infections.
4. Anemia: The reduced number of red blood cells can lead to anemia, which causes fatigue and shortness of breath.
5. Bleeding and Clotting Issues: A decrease in platelets can result in excessive bleeding or difficulty in blood clotting.
6. Enlarged Lymph Nodes and Liver or Spleen: Leukemia cells can also accumulate in these organs, causing them to enlarge.
7.
Bone Pain: The marrow may expand, causing pain in the bones.
8.
Fatigue and Weakness: The combination of anemia and the body's struggle against the abnormal cells can lead to a general feeling of tiredness and weakness.
Leukemia is a type of cancer that originates in the bone marrow, which is the soft tissue inside bones where blood cells are produced. In a healthy individual, the bone marrow makes new blood cells, including red blood cells (which carry oxygen), white blood cells (which fight infection), and platelets (which help blood to clot). However, in a person with leukemia, the bone marrow starts to produce abnormal white blood cells, known as leukemia cells.
Here's what happens step by step:
1. Overproduction of Abnormal Cells: The bone marrow produces too many abnormal white blood cells that do not function properly. These cells are leukemia cells.
2. Crowding Out Healthy Cells: Because these leukemia cells are not effective at fighting infections, they can also crowd out the healthy blood cells in the bone marrow.
3. Inability to Fight Infections: With fewer healthy white blood cells, the body becomes more susceptible to infections.
4. Anemia: The reduced number of red blood cells can lead to anemia, which causes fatigue and shortness of breath.
5. Bleeding and Clotting Issues: A decrease in platelets can result in excessive bleeding or difficulty in blood clotting.
6. Enlarged Lymph Nodes and Liver or Spleen: Leukemia cells can also accumulate in these organs, causing them to enlarge.
7.
Bone Pain: The marrow may expand, causing pain in the bones.
8.
Fatigue and Weakness: The combination of anemia and the body's struggle against the abnormal cells can lead to a general feeling of tiredness and weakness.
Studied at the University of Zurich, Lives in Zurich, Switzerland.
Your bone marrow is where stem cells grow. These stem cells become white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. In most cases of leukemia, there are too many abnormal white blood cells. These leukemia cells crowd out the normal blood cells in your bone marrow and build up in your lymph nodes, liver, and spleen.
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Emily Stewart
QuesHub.com delivers expert answers and knowledge to you.
Your bone marrow is where stem cells grow. These stem cells become white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. In most cases of leukemia, there are too many abnormal white blood cells. These leukemia cells crowd out the normal blood cells in your bone marrow and build up in your lymph nodes, liver, and spleen.
