SOCIETY FOR
CANCER & RESEARCH ORGANIZATION(REGD.)
RZ-21B, Arjun Park, Najafgarh,
New Delhi-110043.
Telphone No.-
9319479394
Email : scro2007@rediffmail.com
There are no definite
early signs of leukaemia, ACUTE LEUKAEMIA Acute in children usually appears rather
suddenly with symptoms similar to those of a cold and progresses rapidly. Lymph
nodes, spleen and liver become enlarged with white blood cells that accumulate in
these organs. Because leukaemic cells circulate throughout the body via the blood
and lymph systems, the patient may develop a variety of generalized complaints.
Early signs and symptoms may include fatigue, paleness, loss of appetite, weight
loss, repeated infections, night sweats, bone and joint paint, fever, easy bruising,
nose bleeds or other haemorrhages. There may also be enlargement of the liver, spleen
and lymph nodes, and anaemia. Symptoms of advanced leukaemia include extreme fatigue,
massive haemorrhages, pain, high fever, swelling of the gums and various skin disorder.
Sometimes chronic leukaemia in adults may later develop in to acute leukaemia. In
these cases, the symptoms of the acute from progress more slowly than in children.
CHRONIC LEUKAEMIA
Chronic Leukaemia
comes on slowly and without warning signs. Many cases are discoverd during routine
blood test, but significant signs and symptoms may not appear or several years when
they develop, signs and symptoms resemble those of the acute forms of disease :
fatigue, tendency to bruise and bleed. easily, and increased susceptibility to infection.
The physician can often feel an enlarged spleen or lymph nodes.
DIAGNOSIS
Leukaemia is diagnosed
by microscopic examination of the blood and bone marrow cells. Blood samples are
taken in the usual way by drawing a small amount of blood from a vein in the arm
or finger. The bone marrow sample (biopsy) is taken by the aspiration technique,
in which a needle is inserted after skin anaesthesia and the tissue sample withdrawn
through suction. The breastbone or the bone at the top of the hip is usually selected
for bone marrow biopsy. The patient will experience only a slight sensation of pressure
as the needle is inserted when the marrow is withdrawn there will be a few seconds
of pain which the patient will be forewarned of by the physician. These cell samples
are examined for excessive numbers of the abnormal white blood cells characteristic
or specific types
of leukaemia. The blood samples reveal the number of white blood
cells, red blood cells and platelets in the blood and if leukaemic cell have entered
the circulatory systems.
TREATMENT
Chemotherapy is by
far the most effective current method of treating the leukaemia. It is combined
with radiotherapy and surgery in specialized conditions.
CHEMOTHERAPY
A variety of anti-cancer
drugs, used singly and in combinations of two or more drugs, achieve remissions
in a high percentage of patients with leukaemia. Remission is the complete or partial
disappearance of the signs and symptoms of a disease, or the period during which
a disease is under control. The special drugs used in chemotherapy produce more
injury to cancer cells than to normal cells, but the physician maintains a delicate
balance between dose and frequency by giving enough chemotherapy to kill leukaemic
cells without destroying
too many healthy ones. Chemotherapeutic drugs work in several
different ways but they usually interfere with cell division and growth. Rapidly
growing cells, both normal and, cancer, are most vulnerable to chemotherapeutic
drugs. There are certain side effects that may occur. They include nausea and vomiting,
diarrhoea, hair loss, anaemia, reduced blood-clotting ability, susceptibility to
infections, and mouth sores. Individuals tolerate drugs differently and when treatment is stopped, side effects disappear, hair grows back, for example, or anaemia is
corrected. Any unexpected side effects should be reported to the physician.
RADIOTHERAPY
Radiotherapy may
be used in addition to the chemotherapeutic drugs for treatment of leukaemia patient.
The basic principle of radiation therapy is to bombard cancer cells with rays which
damage or destroy the cancer yet produce only minimum damage to surrounding normal
tissues. Radiotherapy is sometimes used to treat acute leukaemia following drug
treatment. The, purpose is to help kill leukaemic cells in the brain since that
organ is not eached by most anticancer drugs. Radiation may also be beamed to specific
areas, such as the lymph nodes, the spleen and the spine. Some patients are benifited
from total body irradiation. Skin reactions, nausea, vomiting, a feelin of tiredness
can be side effects of radiations. Rest and good nutrition help the body recover
more quickly.
SURGERY
Surgery has only
limited usefulness in controlling leukaemia. The spleen may be removed in some cases
for some types of leukaemia, but only as one part of the overall treatment. Biopsies,
the surgical removal of specimen tissues for microscopic examination, are performed
only for diagnostic purposes. Occasionally surgery may be performed for unusual
complications.
SUPPORTIVE THERAPY
Supportive treatment
are available to help fight these conditions, and have been vital in maintainig
patients until the benifits of chemotherapy and/ or radiation can take effect. Transfusions
of blood platelets are effective in preventing or stopping haemorrhage. Antibiotics
are strict hygiene measures. Transfusions of granulocytes, infection-fighting white
blood cells, are also beneficial.
AIMS & OBJECTIVES OF SOCIETY
i) To help (Physically
& Financially) Cancer Patients who is belonging to very poor family.
ii) To open a india's best cancer hospital where poor cancer patients can get treatment
free of cost.
iii) To invent specific couse of cancer & 100% curable treatment. So we have
to request all of you to please help the cancer society to help the cancer patients,
to help the humanity, to help the nation.
