Before starting treatment, you might want a second opinion about your
diagnosis and treatment plan. Some people worry that the doctor will be
offended if they ask for a second opinion. Usually the opposite is true.
Most doctors welcome a second opinion. And many health insurance companies
will pay for a second opinion if you or your doctor requests it.
If you get a second opinion, the doctor may agree with your first doctor's
diagnosis and treatment plan. Or the second doctor may suggest another approach.
Either way, you have more information and perhaps a greater sense of control.
You can feel more confident about the decisions you make, knowing that you've
looked at your options.
It may take some time and effort to gather your medical records and see
another doctor. In most cases, it's not a problem to take several weeks to get a
second opinion. The delay in starting treatment usually won't make treatment
less effective. To make sure, you should discuss this delay with your doctor.
Some people with leukemia need treatment right away.
There are many ways to find a doctor for a second opinion. You can ask your
doctor, a local or state medical society, a nearby hospital, or a medical school
for names of specialists. NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER can
tell you about nearby treatment centers.
Nonprofit groups with an interest in leukemia may be of help.
Supportive Care
Leukemia and its treatment can lead to other health problems. You can have
supportive care before, during, or after cancer treatment.
Supportive care is treatment to prevent or fight infections, to control pain
and other symptoms, to relieve the side effects of therapy, and to help you cope
with the feelings that a diagnosis of cancer can bring. You may receive
supportive care to prevent or control these problems and to improve your comfort
and quality of life during treatment.
Infections: Because people with leukemia get infections very easily, you may
receive antibiotics and other drugs. Some people receive vaccines against the
flu and pneumonia. The health care team may advise you to stay away from crowds
and from people with colds and other contagious diseases. If an infection
develops, it can be serious and should be treated promptly. You may need to stay
in the hospital for treatment.
Anemia and bleeding: Anemia and bleeding are other problems that often
require supportive care. You may need a transfusion of red blood cells or
platelets. Transfusions help treat anemia and reduce the risk of serious
bleeding.
Dental problems: Leukemia and chemotherapy can make the mouth sensitive,
easily infected, and likely to bleed. Doctors often advise patients to have a
complete dental exam and, if possible, undergo needed dental care before
chemotherapy begins. Dentists show patients how to keep their mouth clean and
healthy during treatment. You can get information about supportive care on NCI's
Web site at http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/coping and from NCI's Cancer
Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER or LiveHelp (http://www.cancer.gov/help).
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.
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