Leukemia and Lymphoma: Cancers of Blood

Leukemia, a type of cancer, is characterized by an abnormal multiplication of blood cells, usually the white blood cells called leukocytes. Leukemia is of two types-acute and chronic. These categories are made usually depending on the aggressiveness of the condition. Acute leukemia is generally common in children whereas chronic leukemia is mostly found in adults.

Lymphoma is another type of blood cancer that develops when lymphocytes (white blood cells that facilitate protection of the body from infection and other ailments) work abnormally. Abnormal lymphocytes may either divide themselves faster than normal cells or they may survive longer than they are really believed to. Lymphoma may occur in any segment of the body: the lymph nodes, bone marrow, spleen, and other organs or in the blood. There are two types of lymphomas: Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). Though both progresses in the same way, what makes them different is the Reed Sternberg cell. This cancerous cell type is found only in Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Leukemia and lymphoma, both are the cancers of blood. The difference is in the types of cells that are affected-in leukemia, there is abnormal production of leukocytes, and in lymphoma the abnormality is in lymphocytes.

Both leukocytes and lymphocytes are involved in the body’s defense mechanism. The risk factors for both the blood cancers are not specific and vary from person to person. some of the general symptoms seen in both are swollen, painless lymph, nodes in the neck, armpits, and groin; fever, unexplained weight loss, sweating at night, fatigue, pain, itching, lack of energy, chills, enlargement of spleen, swelling or a feeling of fullness in the abdomen, pain during alcohol consumption, coughing, breathing trouble and chest pain. A few other symptoms of leukemia are bleeding and bruising easily, flow of blood from gums, itchy purplish patches on the skin or minute red colored spots under the skin.

Diagnosis of the type of cell involved in the malignancy helps to distinguish between the types of cancer. Blood and bone marrow investigations, including cyto chemistry, immuno-phenotyping and karyotyping are used to know the cell’s origin, which helps a physician to decide the intensity of the treatment.

New investigation techniques like the PET scan help in assessing the patient’s response to the treatment. Both the kinds, Leukemia as well as Lymphoma are treated with a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy depending on the type, stage of the cancer and the patient’s age. The goal of the treatment in both is to bring about the complete reduction of the disease so that a person can live his or her life fully without any threat.

Linus Orakles
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