Can a decrease in white blood cells mean leukemia? How do you get leukemia?

Leukemia is often called blood cancer, and many people think it is a terminal illness. Our blood contains red blood cells and white blood cells, and some people mistakenly believe that a decrease in white blood cells means leukemia, but this is not the case.

Can white blood cell reduction be leukemia?

Leukopenia does not necessarily mean leukemia, and leukemia does not necessarily mean leukopenia, nor does it necessarily mean a significant increase in leukocytes.

Leukocytopenia is mostly seen in cases after infection, which can gradually return to normal after the infection is controlled; the use of certain drugs can also cause leukocytopenia, such as antiviral drugs such as ganciclovir; bone marrow suppressive diseases, such as aplastic anemia and other bone marrow diseases.

In addition to the decrease or increase of white blood cells, leukemia is often accompanied by a decrease in red blood cells and thrombocytopenia. Clinically, it is mainly manifested as pale anemia, easy bleeding, etc. Blood smear examination can be used for preliminary screening, and bone marrow puncture examination is the gold standard for diagnosing leukemia.

The diagnosis of every disease cannot be simply judged by a certain examination indicator. It requires a comprehensive analysis of clinical manifestations, physical examinations, auxiliary examinations, etc. Sometimes it is necessary to observe the progress of the disease while treating it before a final diagnosis can be made. There are also some rare diseases, and there are also many diseases that cannot be diagnosed by humans at present.

How do you get leukemia?

Leukemia, this disease itself has no direct relationship with the white blood cells in the blood circulation, but is directly related to bone marrow hematopoiesis. If there is an abnormality in bone marrow hematopoiesis, blood cancer, that is, leukemia, may develop.

In addition to white blood cell abnormalities, leukemia is often accompanied by a decrease in hemoglobin and platelets. The main manifestations are fatigue, pale complexion, and easy skin bleeding.

Some leukemias are caused by gene mutations, some are caused by specific viral infections, some are caused by environmental factors, and some are unknown.

Can leukemia be cured?

Some leukemias can be effectively cured or maintained in a relatively stable state through medication. For example, acute promyelocytic leukemia is an acute leukemia with the best prognosis.

For example, chronic myeloid leukemia can also be maintained in a relatively stable state through targeted drugs, so that the disease is alleviated and does not progress, and the 10-year survival rate reaches 85%~90%. However, such patients must take medication in a standardized manner, follow the doctor's instructions for standardized monitoring, and cannot stop taking medication at will.

However, the series of complications caused by leukemia are unpredictable, and these complications are what really need to be solved.