Pro athletes often seem to know their bodies, and notice bodily changes early
when something isn't quite right. This intuition may have led Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar to seek medical help when he started to get hot flashes and
night
sweats last fall. Many people may have ignored these symptoms and sloughed them
off as unimportant. Hot flashes may be normal for women in menopause, but not
for a male basketball legend. Mr. Abdul-Jabbar's symptoms led to an early
diagnosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).
What causes chronic myelogenous leukemia?
Chronic myelogenous leukemia is a rare type of
leukemia that tends to affect
older males. More than 90% of cases are due to a gene abnormality caused when two
chromosomes swap sections
with each other. There are 23 chromosomes in humans, and in patients with chronic
myelogenous leukemia chromosomes 9 and 22 within blood cells exchange bits of
genetic material to form a Philadelphia chromosome, named after the city where
it was discovered. The new gene on this chromosome makes a protein called
tyrosine kinase that allows white blood cells to grow out of control; moreover,
these abnormal white blood cells tend not to become old and die. The bone marrow, where red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are made, becomes
filled with white blood cells crowding out the normal cells and damaging the
bone marrow itself. This can impair the ability of the bone marrow to
manufacture normal amounts of blood cells.
While the exact cause(s) of leukemia is not known,
risk factors have been identified.
Leukemias are grouped by how quickly the disease
develops (acute or chronic) as well as by the type of blood cell that is
affected (lymphocytes or myelocytes). The four main types of leukemia include acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), acute myelocytic leukemia (AML), and chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML).
People with leukemia are at significantly increased
risk for developing infections, anemia, and bleeding. Other symptoms and signs include easy bruising, weight loss, night sweats, and unexplained
fevers.
The diagnosis of leukemia is supported by findings of the
medical history and examination, and examining blood
and bone marrow samples under a microscope.
Treatment of leukemia depends on the type of leukemia,
certain features of the leukemia cells, the extent of the disease, and prior
history of treatment, as well as the age and health of the patient.
Most patients with leukemia are treated with chemotherapy. Some
patients also may have radiation therapy and/or bone marrow
transplantation.
There is no known way to prevent leukemia.
The prognosis of leukemia depends upon several factors, including the patient's age, the type of leukemia, and the extent to which the cancer has spread.
Anemia is the condition of having less than the normal number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. The oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood is, therefore, decreased.
Lymph nodes help the body's immune system fight infections. Causes of swollen lymph nodes (glands) may include infection (viral, bacterial, fungal, parasites). Symptoms of swollen lymph nodes vary greatly. They can sometimes be tender, painful or disfiguring. The treatment of swollen lymph nodes depends upon the cause.
Systemic lupus erythematosus is a condition characterized by chronic inflammation of body tissues caused by autoimmune disease. Lupus can cause disease of the skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, joints, and nervous
system. When only the skin is involved, the condition is called discoid lupus.
When internal organs are involved, the condition is called systemic lupus
erythematosus (SLE).
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is cancer of the lymphatic system, a vital part of the body's immune system. Symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, fever, night sweats, coughing, weakness, chest pain, unexplained weight loss, and abdominal pain. Treatment depends on which type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma you have, the stage of the cancer, your age, how fast the cancer is growing, and whether you have other health problems.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in which irritation of the wrist's median nerve causes tingling and numbness of the thumb, index, and the middle fingers. This condition is known as tarsal tunnel syndrome in the ankles and feet. Treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome depends on the severity of the symptoms and the nature of any disease that might be causing the symptoms.
Hodgkin's disease is a cancer of the lymphatic system with symptoms that include unexplained, recurring fevers, unexplained weight loss, itchy skin, and painless swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, and groin. Treatment for adult Hodgkin's disease depends on the staging of the disease, the lymph nodes' size, and the health of the patient.
The spleen enlarges if it is asked to do excessive work in filtering or manufacturing blood cells, if there is abnormal blood flow to it, or if it is invaded with abnormal cells or deposits. Symptoms of an enlarged spleen may include weakness and fatigue, easy bleeding, and poor white blood cell function. Treatment of an enlarged spleen is focused toward the cause of the splenomegaly. Surgery may be required to remove the spleen.
Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder that results in the presence of an additional third chromosome 21, also referred to as trisomy 21. Most individuals with Down syndrome have widely recognizable physical characteristics. The severity of Down syndrome ranges from mild to severe. Diagnostic testing for Down syndrome include amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling, and percutaneous umbilical cord sampling. The most common risk factor for Down syndrome is a woman's age.
Thrombocytopenia refers to a decreased number of platelets in the blood. There are many causes of thrombocytopenia such as decreased platelet production (viral infections for example rubella, mumps, chickenpox, hepatitis C, and HIV); increased platelet destruction or consumption (for example sulfonamide antibiotics, heparin, blood transfusions, and lupus); or increased splenic sequestration (enlarged spleen due to conditions for example liver disease, blood cancers, and more). Treatment of thrombocytopenia depends on the cause.
Eye floaters are deposits or condensation that forms in the eye's vitreous humor. These deposits cast shadows on the retina, and as the eye moves, the deposits shift position, making it appear as though the shadows are moving or floating.
Pericarditis is the inflammation of the pericardial sac that surrounds the heart. The causes of pericarditis include injury from heart attack, heart surgery, trauma; viral or fungal infection, HIV, tumors, mixed connective tissue disease, metabolic disease, medication reactions, or idiopathic. Treatment for pericarditis is generally medication, however, sometimes surgery is necessary.
Though it's difficult to say why some people develop cancer while others don't, research shows that certain risk factors increase a person's odds of developing cancer. These risk factors include growing older, family history of cancer, diet, alcohol and tobacco use, and exposure to sunlight, ionizing radiation, certain chemicals, and some viruses and bacteria.
Eosinophilic fasciitis is a skin disease that causes thickening and inflammation of the skin and fascia. Symptoms include redness, warmth, and hardening of the skin, as well as occasional tissue and joint pain. Treatment for eosinophilic fasciitis aims to eliminate inflammation through the use of aspirin, NSAIDs, and cortisone. Aggressive forms of eosinophilic fasciitis may require the use of immune suppression medications.
Stem cells are referred to as undifferentiated cells due to the fact that they have not yet committed to a developmental path to form specific organ tissue. There are a variety of types of stem cells to include embryonic, fetal, adult peripheral blood, umbilical cord, and induced pluripotent stem cells.
Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most common type of cancer in children. Symptoms and signs include fever, easy bruising, bone or joint pain, weakness, loss of appetite, and painless lumps in the neck, underarm, stomach, or groin. Treatment depends upon staging and may include chemotherapy, radiation, or stem cell transplant.
Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer that begins in cells of the immune system. The
immune system fights infections and other diseases.
The lymphatic system is part of the immune system. The lymphatic system
includes the following:
Lymph vessels: The lymphatic system has a network of lymph vessels.
Lymph vessels branch into all the tissues of the body.
Lymph: The lymph vessels carry clear fluid called lymph. Lymph contains
white blood cells, especially lymphocytes such as B cells and T cells.
Lymph nodes: Lymph vessels are connected to small, round masses of
tissue called lymph nodes. Groups of lymph nodes are found in the neck,
underarms, chest, abdomen, and groin. Lymph nodes store white blood cells.
They trap and remove bacteria or other harmful substances that may be in the
lymph.
Other parts of the lymphatic system: Other parts of the lymphatic system
include the t...
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