1. Too Many White Cells
Bone marrow produces immature blood cells that develop into white cells called lymphoblasts or lymphocytes. When your body produces too many of these lymphoblasts, these are called leukemic cells. You develop acute lymphoblastic leukemia when you have too many of these cells in your blood and bone marrow. When you have lots of leukemic cells in your blood and bone marrow, healthy red and white cells have less room.
2. What Causes It?
Scientists are still researching the exact genetic mutation that causes your body to start producing more lymphoblasts than necessary. Exposure to high doses of radiation has been associated with developing acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Researchers have looked at different geographical locations and social classes but cannot find a link.
3. Diagnosing ALL Cancer
Symptoms include aches and pains, easily bruising, headaches, fevers for no reason, pale-looking skin, lots of bleeding from minor scrapes and cuts, reduced energy and vomiting. See your doctor if you have any of these symptoms. Your doctor will perform a bone marrow biopsy and a complete red and white blood cell count. This will give your doctor an idea of how many abnormal cells you have. Your doctor will find out if your acute lymphoblastic leukemia affects B cells or T cells.
4. Treatment for Too Many White Cells
Chemotherapy is the main treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. You need to start this treatment as soon as possible for the best results. A treatment called induction therapy gets rid of as many leukemic cells as possible and tries to restore your red and white blood cell counts back to normal. To ensure the leukemic cells have not transferred to the brain and spinal cord, direct chemotherapy treatment to those areas as a safeguard. Sometimes, patients need a stem cell transplant along with the induction treatment because of excessive damage to many healthy cells.
5. Follow-Up ALL Treatments
The second treatment, called post-induction treatment, you will receive for two to three years after the induction treatment to ensure that the acute lymphoblastic leukemia does not return. This treatment consists of chemotherapy medicine to kill any cells that remain or develop after the induction treatment. Follow-up visits to your doctor are required after the post-induction treatments.
