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Leukaemia

Leukaemia

Leukaemia is cancer of the white blood cells found in teh blood. This serious disease is often fatal. Leukaemia is caused due to either of the 2 abnormal white blood cells:

Myeloid white blood cells are made in the bone marrow from where they travel through the bloodstrem destroying foreign organisms.

Lympohid white blood cells are located in the lymph nodes and lymphatic system.

Chronic leukaemia is a situation where the disease progresses slowly. Acute leukaemia is indicated by a sudden onset and is more likely to affect children and young people.

A person suffering from leukaemia noticed repeated infections and unexplained bruising. There is a tendency to feel fatigued and anemic. Other symptoms include loss of weight and fever. Aching joints and bones are yet another symptom of leukaemia. Symptoms of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia appear very rapidly. A detailed blood test is taken for diagnosing leukaemia. When it shows an abnormal number of abnormal white blood cells, it is indicative of leukaemia. A bone marrow biopsy is taken to help classify the leukaemia.

Treatment for leukaemia includes radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immune therapy and bone marrow transplantation. Chemotherapy treatment uses cytotoxic drugs to kill abnormal cells thereby stopping their further division. But the fallout of this procedure is that often normal body cells such as those in the hair adn skin are also killed. Bone marrow transplant is carried out only on children and younger patients. Marrow cells from a donor, who is generally a sibling, is replaced in the patient.

Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is generally noticed in people over the age of 50. Quite often it is curable especially when it is found superficially on the surface of the bladder. At its more invasive and deeper stage, Bladder Cancer can be fatal. More instances of bladder cancer have been found in smokers, in particular those who have worked with PCB plastics or commercial dye industry.

This cancer occurs almost uniformly within the transitional cells of the bladder (the type of cell which lines the bladder wall). Transitional cell cancer is also found in the kidney and the ureter (the tube which connects the kidney to the bladder) although with much less frequency.

A urinalysis that shows an increased number of white blood cells without evidence of bacterial infection can lead to suspicion of bladder cancer. Urinalysis may also be remarkable for microscopic haematuria (blood in minute quantities). A cystoscopy allows the Urologist to look inside the bladder. This procedure is done under I.V. sedation or general anaesthesia. Cancer is detected with a biopsy or tissue sample. This is where a Pathologist can help in determining the extent of invasion of the cancer.

Chemotherapy agents are injected into the bladder through a catheter. These agents could include Adriamycin, BCG and other types of chemotherapy. If the bladder cancer is in an invasive stage, radical cystectomy may be required. This means a total surgical removal of the bladder. Radiation therapy which involves high doses of x-rays to localised body parts along with chemotherapy can be succesfully used to treat patients suffering from bladder cancer. When the bladder cancer has reached an advanced stage, it is generally incurable. A nutritious cancer diet is used to supplement the treatment.

Tonsillitis

The tonsils are special lymph nodes located on either sides at the back of the throat, behind the tongue. They play ta major role in trapping infection-causing germs. Tonsils contain antibodies and cells that can tackle infections from spreading into the body. Tonsils store white blood cells and form part of the body's immune system. But when virus or bacteria infect the tonsils, a person suffers from tonsillitis. Tonsillitis is often noticed in children. Tonsillitis usually spreads from person to person by contact. Tonsillitis can in some cases lead to secondary infection of the middle ear or scarlet fever.

Symptoms of tonsillitis include swollen glands at the back of the neck and dark red tonsils. The voice may sound different. The person may have fever and chills. There may be headache and severe sore throat. The patient may have difficulty in swallowing. Viral infections cause milder symptoms. A throat culture or rapid strep test is used to test whether the tonsillitis is triggered by viral or bacterial infection.

Often tonsillitis is caused due to respiratory virus infections such as strep throat. Over-the-counter medications may be used to reduce pain and fever. Suitable antibiotics are prescribed to tackle the streptococcal bacteria, if that is identified as the source of tonsillitis. These days doctors do not recommend surgical removal of the tonsils (tonsillectomy). Adequate rest, plenty of warm fluids and smooth foods can bring considerable relief to a person suffering from tonsillitis.