Leukemia cancer

Leukemia is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow. Bone marrow produces blood cells. Leukemia can develop due to a problem with blood cell production. It usually affects the leukocytes, or white blood cells.

Leukemia affects the body by causing a number of problems. As the bone marrow becomes crowded with more and more leukemia cells, there isn’t enough space to make healthy blood cells. … Low levels of red blood cells mean that the body doesn’t get enough oxygen so people feel more tired and out of breath.

Leukemia develops when the DNA of developing blood cells, mainly white cells, incurs damage. This causes the blood cells to grow and divide uncontrollably.

Healthy blood cells die, and new cells replace them. These develop in the bone marrow.

The abnormal blood cells do not die at a natural point in their life cycle. Instead, they build up and occupy more space.

As the bone marrow produces more cancer cells, they begin to overcrowd the blood, preventing the healthy white blood cells from growing and functioning normally.

Eventually, the cancerous cells outnumber healthy cells in the blood.

 

Leukemia symptoms vary, depending on the type of leukemia. Common leukemia signs and symptoms include:

• Fever or chills
• Persistent fatigue, weakness
• Frequent or severe infections
• Losing weight without trying
• Swollen lymph nodes, enlarged liver or spleen
• Easy bleeding or bruising
• Recurrent nosebleeds
• Tiny red spots in your skin (petechiae)
• Excessive sweating, especially at night
• Bone pain or tenderness