Cancers that affect the blood or bone marrow include leukemia and lymphoma. Blood-forming tissue is where leukemia first develops. Stem cells in the bone marrow are the source of the majority of blood cells. The bone marrow produces aberrant white blood cells in leukemia patients (leukemia cells). Leukemia cells, unlike healthy blood cells, do not die as they should. Healthy platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells might be pushed out by them. It is difficult for normal blood cells to function as a result.

The DNA of one cell in your bone marrow alters to cause leukemia to develop (mutates). The "instruction code" for a cell's growth, development, and demise is found in its DNA. The mutation, or coding error, causes leukemia cells to continue to proliferate. The DNA of the original mutant cell is present in all cells that develop from it.

What leads to the mutation of these growing cells is unknown to scientists. They've been able to pinpoint several shared variants across persons with various forms of leukemia.

Common leukemia warning signs and symptoms include:

• fatigue; easily gets tired.
• fever or sweats at night.
• many infections.
• respiration difficulty.
• fair skin.
• Unaccounted-for weight loss
• joint or bone discomfort or pain.
• On the left side, feel a pain or a fullness under your ribcage.
• lymph nodes in your stomach, groin, underarm, or neck that are swollen, as well as your spleen or liver.
• Bruising and bleeding easily, including nosebleeds, bleeding gums, and a rash that appears as purplish or darkening areas of skin or as tiny red dots on the skin (petechiae).

To raise awareness of blood malignancies and their early warning signals, September is designated as Leukemia Awareness Month. Leukemia and lymphoma account for 10% of cancer diagnoses, making them two of the more prevalent cancers. Educating the public about malignancies and their distinctive signs is the main goal of this observation.

LEUKEMIA AWARENESS MONTH Observation Guide:

• Get a comprehensive physical examination

By removing your name from the patient list, you may show that you support the cause. Having routine checkups makes it easier to monitor your health.

• Spread the world

We can successfully fight cancer if we are well-versed in its causes, symptoms, and treatments. Prepare simple-to-read brochures or social media posts about the early indications of cancer this September and hand them out to everyone you know.

PDO I Kimberly Tanador, RND

References:

Leukemia

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4365-leukemia

Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month – September 2022

https://nationaltoday.com/leukemia-and-lymphoma-awareness-month/