Describe the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of chronic Essay

Describe the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of chronic leukemia - Essay Example This is when leukemia cells grow more rapidly. One of the most common symptoms of chronic leukemia is swollen or enlarged lymph nodes. Other symptoms include fever, bone pain, weight loss, night sweats, reduced immunity, abdominal discomforts, and fatigue among many others. In the initial diagnosis, key factors include lack of significant circulating blasts, frequent thrombocytosis, and mild anemia. Chronic leukemia patients exhibit a cytochemical abnormality, characterised by low leukocyte alkaline phosphatase (Schiller 2003). A record of low leukocyte alkaline phosphatase is associated with relatively low levels of granulocyte colony- stimulating factor. Additional laboratory features include elevated elastase and uric acid levels. However, in order to confirm the disease, a bone marrow aspiration and biopsy is required to all patients considered to have chronic leukemia (Wiernik 2001). This helps not only to verify the diagnosis, but also to offer some essential information concerning the stage of the disease. In general, patients with chronic leukemia are diagnosed with immature leukocytes in their blood, and include increased number of white blood cells taking abnormal shapes (Skeel and Khleif 2011). However, the red blood cells and platelets tend to appear to be less than the normal quantities. Due to its nature of slow progression, chronic leukemia may not call for immediate treatment. However, it is vital for persons with this type of leukemia to seek frequent check ups for proper monitoring of the disease (Moini 2012). Nevertheless, there are five stages involved in treatment of this type of leukemia: chemotherapy is one of them and it is used to kill leukemia cells, which involves use of anti-cancer drugs (Swearingen 2008). Radiation is also used to kill cancer cells, which involves exposing them to high-energy radiation. Interferon therapy is