Hairy Cell Leukemia
Hairy Cell Leukemia
It is the type blood cancer in which abnormal number b cells produce. B cells are the type of white blood cells which is involved in the immune function of your body. It is mostly occurred in men than women.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms include:
- Easy bruising
- Fatigue
- Abdominal discomfort
- Weight loss
- Weakness
- Anemia
- Infections
Causes
The exact cause of hairy cell leukemia is not known yet but mutation in DNA in the cells of bone marrow involved in the development of hairy cell leukemia.
Complications
If left untreated it may cause the following complications:
- Infections due to the abnormal white cell production.
- Bleeding
- Anemia
- Increase risk of other type of cancers
Diagnosis
Following are the diagnostic test for leukemias:
- Blood test to check the complete blood count.
- Physical examination of abdomen to check the enlargement of spleen and liver and tenderness in abdomen.
- Bone marrow biopsy to check the type and stage of cancer.
- CT scan for detail image of spleen and lymph nodes.
Treatment
Treatment option include:
- Chemotherapy to kill the offending cells with the help of the chemotherapy drugs like cladribine and pentostatin.
- Rituximab which is the monoclonal antibody use to kill cancerous cells.
- Bone marrow transplant surgery