Leukemia Comparison: Symptoms, Causes, Remedies, and Additional Details (Acute vs. Chronic)
Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects specific cells in the bone marrow, blood, or lymphatic system. This disease can be broadly categorised into two main types: acute and chronic leukemia.
Acute Leukemia
Acute leukemia is a fast-progressing cancer where immature white blood cells, known as blasts, multiply rapidly, replacing healthy cells within days or weeks. This rapid buildup impairs the body's ability to produce normal blood components, leading to severe symptoms quickly and often requiring immediate treatment.
Acute leukemia can be further divided into two subtypes: acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Acute leukemia disrupts normal blood production abruptly, leading to quick depletion of healthy red blood cells, platelets, and normal immune cells. Symptoms might include fatigue, unexplained weight loss, fever, shortness of breath, paler skin, tiny red spots under the skin, frequent infections, easy bruising and bleeding, wounds that take more time to heal, bone and joint pain, and lumps in the neck, armpits, or groin.
Doctors may use targeted therapy drugs, chemotherapy, or stem cell transplants for acute leukemia treatment. Diagnosing acute leukemia often requires a bone marrow biopsy.
Chronic Leukemia
In contrast, chronic leukemia progresses slowly over months or years, involving more mature but dysfunctional white blood cells that accumulate gradually. Symptoms might be mild or unnoticed at first, but over time, chronic leukemia causes immune dysfunction, anemia, and other blood deficiencies.
Chronic leukemia can also be divided into two subtypes: chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Chronic leukemia affects more mature, functional cells and develops slowly.
People with chronic leukemia may not need treatment until symptoms appear, which can take years. Doctors monitor the condition of people with chronic leukemia regularly. Older adults with chronic leukemia are often treated with targeted therapies to minimise side effects.
The outlook for people with chronic leukemia is positive, and they can live a normal life. In fact, the treatment of chronic leukemia, particularly CLL, has significantly improved outcomes in the last 40 years. The 5-year survival rate for CLL has increased from 51% to 72% since 2010, and survival rates for children up to 14 years of age have improved from 73% to 93% in the same time frame.
Leukemia rates in the United States have been decreasing since 2006. This decline is likely due to advancements in diagnosis and treatment, as well as improvements in prevention and early detection strategies.
In conclusion, while acute leukemia causes rapid, severe disruption of blood function and immediate health risks, chronic leukemia leads to slower disease progression with initially subtle symptoms and a more prolonged course. Both types of leukemia eventually impair the immune system and blood cell production differently, but advancements in treatment have greatly improved outcomes for many patients.
[1] American Cancer Society. (2021). Leukemia. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/leukemia.html [2] Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. (2021). Types of Leukemia. Retrieved from https://www.lls.org/leukemia/understanding-leukemia/types-of-leukemia [3] National Cancer Institute. (2021). Leukemia - Overview. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/types/leukemia [4] Mayo Clinic. (2021). Leukemia. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/leukemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20356435
Other leukemias, such as chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), progress slowly over time, unlike acute leukemia. Science and medical advancements have improved the treatment and management of various leukemias, including other leukemias, medical conditions like cancer, and health issues related to blood production. These advancements have led to better outcomes for patients with leukemia, increasing the 5-year survival rate for CLL from 51% to 72% since 2010.
){kind=link}