14/11/2025
LEUKEMIA IN A NUT SHELL
Leukemia is a cancer of the blood that affects the white blood cells. It originates in the bone marrow following cell mutation. Classified according to the sp*ed of it's progression and the cells affected .(Lesson for another day)
Blood cells are formed in the bone marrow. Now, when a white cell mutates, it becomes a cellular monster, it multiplies very fast and quickly accumulates in the marrow, outnumbering all other blood cells( red cells, and platelets),including blood forming cells . When the bone marrow is invaded and affected by abnormal cells, it means that the production of any other blood cells is also affected.
FATIGUE AND WEAKNESS
These are among the early signs. Now because the bone marrow cannot form red blood cells optimally,the red blood cells are highly reduced causing severe anaemia. Ideally,red blood cells through hemoglobin help with the transportation of oxygen throughout the body including the brain .
So when anaemia kicks in, it means oxygen supply to the brain and other vital organs is reduced. When the brain is deprived of oxygen, the patients suffers from headaches, fatigue and weakness comes from muscles not getting enough oxygen for energy metabolism , it can also come from the high number of cancerous white blood cells consuming a big chunk of energy leading to energy shortage and thus weakness.Then other neurological features may arise.
INFECTIONS
white blood cells help the body with immunity. Now that they are the primary victims of leukemia, faulty white blood cells heavily multiply and overshadow the normal white blood cells . So their protective capacity is re****ed and the patient's immunity hits a dive and becomes more prone to infections. Tuhoma homa kila wakati hapa na pale plus elevated body temperature ovyo ovyo
The cancerous leukemia cells leave the bone marrow and through the blood and vascular system, they start invading other organs including the brain, and when they reach the brain, they cause those neurological features like headaches and confusion. Also note that the highly produced abnormal white blood cells can thicken the blood and slow it in what we call leucostasis,which means the blood's flowing sp*ed is reduced, thus retarding blood and oxygen supply to vital organs like the brain which also contributes to the headaches. It like when you add sugar to water and keep adding more sugar, the solution eventually thickens and it's flowing capacity reduces. The slow flowing blood is highly likely to clot in small vessels. So if a clot forms in the brain, some brain areas are deprived of oxygen and nutrients nourishment, ,it dies leading to stroke, plus a multiple other complications and organ failures depending on the affected vessels
BLEEDING
Platelets help our bodies control bleeding. When leukemia cells multiply in the marrow remember we said it starts there, overall production of blood cells is re****ed. The number of platelets ( also produced in the bone marrow) which help our bodies attain bleeding control dives. Meaning the patient suffers from bleeding which can be hard to control. Even a small bruise can bleed and bleed and bleed,not forgetting menstrual bleeding.
Also on bleeding,the cancerous leukemia cells can ruin the blood vessels, causing their rupture and subsequent bleeding, now imagine bleeding while your body's cells that control the bleeding are not functional, you simply bleed and bleed. This bleeding can happen in any part including the gums, digestive tract,under the skin, vaginally, kidneys, eyes and the brain and nose bleeding as well. When it happens in the brain, the resulting effects can easily lead to a stroke
Remember blood is basically life, any disease affecting it can get really aggressive and move from A -Z pretty fast.
Early detection can prolong life.
If a symptom occurs today, then tomorrow then you feel it after a day, tuendeni tuangaliwe
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Afyastar Medical Centre and Maternity
