2023-10-19 02:09:27
[TheEpochTimesOctober192023](The Epoch Times reporter Jiang Linda reported in Los Angeles) When it comes to blood cancer, many people become disconcerted. However, with the development of modern medicine, many cancers are no longer incurable.
At the “NTD Health Exhibition” last Saturday (October 14), Solomon Hamburg, clinical professor of the Department of Medicine and Department of Hematology and Oncology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), helped people solve the problem Some questions regarding chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
Dr. Hamberg said that chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a very slow-growing blood cancer; in the very early stages, patients have no symptoms and can usually be detected early following routine blood tests. “Early diagnosis has certain value. So even if To feel good regarding yourself, everyone should see a doctor at least once a year.”
Doubt 1: Why do you get CLL?
Hamberg said that there are 36 trillion cells in the human body, but all cells may become cancerous or even malignant. And 90% of cancers are caused by spontaneous mutations and have nothing to do with the environment.
The vast majority of blood cancers are therefore caused by genetic changes in blood-forming cells; there are of course risk factors, including family history (often among immediate family members), exposure to radiation or certain chemicals, autoimmune diseases and other conditions.
People of any age are at risk for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, but data shows this blood cancer is more common in older people aged 65 to 74.
Question 2: Does CLL need immediate treatment?
Hamburg said that chronic lymphocytic leukemia is divided into five stages: stage 0 belongs to the low-risk group, that is, the very early stage; stages 1 and 2 belong to the medium-risk group; and stages 3 and 4 belong to the high-risk group.
“In those very early-stage patients, they are asymptomatic and don’t need treatment and live well year following year.” There’s also little benefit from early treatment, he said.
However, patients in the middle and late stages will experience symptoms such as fever, chills, night sweats, severe anemia, weight loss, and easy fatigue. “These patients need treatment,” Hamberg said. “Modern treatments, more often used, can help patients with their disease. Patients can recover well and live for decades, not years, but decades.”
He emphasized that this is why he recommends the public, especially the elderly, to see a doctor regularly at least once a year. When detected early, the doctor can track the patient’s condition at any time and provide the patient with a reasonable treatment plan at the appropriate time. “If the patient feels uncomfortable, it is best to see a doctor as soon as possible. It is always right to have a check-up.”
Question 3: Mortality rate of complications in patients with CLL
According to Hamberger, chronic lymphocytic leukemia has many complications, including anemia, autoimmune diseases (including hemolytic anemia and immune-mediated thrombocytopenia), hypogammaglobulinemia (low immune proteins), bone marrow failure, Bacterial and viral infections, lymphadenopathy, glandular swelling, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, fever, etc.
Complications of chronic lymphocytic leukemia are the main cause of death in 25% to 50% of patients.
Question 4: Does the risk of developing CLL increase with age?
Although chronic lymphocytic leukemia is more common in older adults, Hamburg said, “it’s not that aging causes the disease, it’s just that it’s more common as we age; we get spontaneous Sexual genetic mutations are like hair turning gray.”
In addition, unlike other cancers or some diseases, patients may be at risk of chronic lymphocytic leukemia even if they have done nothing wrong. That’s why routine physical exams are crucial, he said. ◇
Editor in charge: Jialian
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