Language
Country/Area
No result found
From leukemia to lymphoma: Why are these blood cancers always intertwined?
Tumors of the blood system and lymphatic system, these malignant tumors affecting the blood, bone marrow, lymph and lymphatic system, are receiving more and more attention in modern medicine. Because these tissues are closely related to each other, the occurrence of any disease may affect other related systems, which makes blood tumors from leukemia to lymphoma always intertwined.
The key to hematological cancers is that they are often clearly interconnected, especially when it comes to diagnosis and treatment.
Hematological tumors can be divided into two major categories: myeloid tumors derived from hematopoietic stem cells and lymphoid tumors derived from lymphocytes. Among them, leukemia mainly manifests in the blood and is intertwined with lymphoma of the lymphatic system, posing challenges in diagnosis and treatment. This interweaving is not only reflected in the pathology, but also in the clinical symptoms, course, and treatment effects.
Diagnostic methods
For suspected blood tumors, a complete blood count and examination of a blood smear are essential. Through microscopic observation, professional doctors can identify the characteristics of malignant cells. Generally, when lymphadenopathy occurs, doctors perform a lymph node biopsy to confirm the presence of lymphoma or other types of blood tumors.
According to the standards of the World Health Organization, the classification of hematological tumors is also constantly updated to meet the diagnosis and treatment needs in this field.
Classification and Treatment
There are various treatment methods for blood tumors, and the treatment methods are adjusted accordingly according to different types of diseases and conditions. For some cases, such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a "watchful waiting" strategy may be chosen, while for more aggressive conditions, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy may be needed.
For example, rituximab (rituximab) has been established as an important drug for the treatment of hematological tumors of B-cell origin, and has been widely used in follicular lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
Follow-up examinations after treatment usually include a complete blood count and lactate dehydrogenase or thymidase activity in the serum to detect potential recurrence in a timely manner.
Etiology and epidemiology
The cause of blood tumors is chromosomal translocation, which often occurs when the repair process of double-stranded DNA is abnormal. Research shows that chromosomal instability in chronic myelogenous leukemia is closely related to oxidative damage.
According to the latest figures, blood tumors account for 9.5% of all new cancer diagnoses in the US, while in the UK around 30,000 patients are diagnosed each year. This illustrates the public health challenge posed by hematological malignancies.
Future challenges
In future research, how to effectively jointly diagnose and treat hematological tumors is an important issue. As technology advances, we are gradually able to more accurately analyze the genetic makeup and abnormalities of these complex diseases, which may also change our understanding of pathology and treatment.
In the treatment of hematological tumors, patients' self-care cannot be ignored. Moderate exercise can help improve patients' physical condition and reduce fatigue and depression during cancer treatment.
As research on hematological tumors continues to deepen, can we find more efficient treatment options in the future to reduce the morbidity and mortality of these diseases?
