Difference Between Leukemia and Lymphoma
Cancers that involve the blood and bone marrow including leukemia and lymphoma. Despite their common origin in the cells that form blood, leukemia and lymphoma differ in various ways such as symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options. By exploring these similarities and differences, this article will provide patients with knowledge about their specific kinds of blood cancer that can lead them to an appropriate Hematologist in Navi Mumbai.
Definition and Types
Leukemia commences in the bone marrow and causes an excessive growth of white blood cells known as leukocytes or leukemia cells. The primary distinctions lie in acute vs. chronic forms depending on which type of cells they affect: lymphocytes or myeloid cells.
Lymphoma occurs when there is proliferation of lymphocytes within the lymph nodes as well as other tissues that are found outside of bone marrow. The latter often presents with localized bands or sheets, while the former contains scattered cells among fibrous tissues or has a mixed cellularity pattern.
Causes and Risk Factors
People have still not known what causes both of these diseases before.Leukemia occurs when the genetic composition of the cells changes randomly while in Lymphoma, cases have been recorded where it was evident that certain infectious agents like Epstein Barr virus (EBV)and Human Immunodeficiency Virus(HIV)led to the disease.
Some individuals are more predisposed to these two infections due to age, and family lineage hence leading to a weaker body defence in fighting off infections as seen in these two illnesses.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Fever, fatigue, bone/joint pain and frequent infections are the crucial symptoms of Leukemia. Other signs of Leukemia include an increase in malignant white cells in the blood because they destroy healthy cells inside their crowded zone.
Enlarged lymph nodes, weight loss, night sweats etc. are likely to be signs of Lymphoma depending on which part of the lymphatic system is under attack. Blood tests plus bone marrow biopsy, as well as several scans for an accurate diagnosis on the specific type of disease. Such tests can be administered by a Hematologist in Navi Mumbai.
Treatment Options
For each of the conditions above, treatment may include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, radiotherapy or stem cell transplant depending on the cancer type and stage.
Leukemia/lymphoma cell death is brought about by some chemotherapy drugs used for chemotherapy administered over many months.
There are a brand new range of targeted therapies that attack particular changes found on some cells. The main focus of any treatment is getting rid of the disease while experiencing the least possible effects which would otherwise have been exterminating the patient.
Prognosis and Survival Rates
The prognosis is based on various other factors such as the kind of disease, the age of the person diagnosed with certain cancer among others in general each type has its own survival rates. For instance, patients seem to do better if they have leukemia than some forms of lymphoma.
Leukemia has a five-year survival rate of about 60% if totally treated whereas the one for Hodgkin’s disease is between 50 and 70%; for some non-Hodgkin’s, this goes down to 50%. Henceforth, when one completes treatment, it is essential to have follow-up visits with the hematologist at Navi Mumbai.
Conclusion
Though they come from the same source (cells) in the family tree of body production called blood, there are noticeable distinctions between Leukemia and Lymphoma with regard to health indicators hence how they are determined and perceived by doctors.
Survival chances could be boosted immensely provided that one is diagnosed with either of them earlier and treated according to one’s personal peculiarities by a seasoned Hematologist who does Leukemia and Lymphoma Treatment in Navi Mumbai. Regular screenings, good life habits and immediate medical care upon noticing something amiss have appreciable importance in averting their occurrence.