LEUKEMIA AND LYMPHOMA

Both leukemias and lymphomas are considered blood-related cancers and involve cells that play an important role in immune function.

There are general differences between the two, yet when broken down by specific leukemias and lymphomas there is a great deal of overlap. A correct diagnosis of leukemia or lymphoma is essential so that the most appropriate treatment can be provided.

SYMPTOMS OF LEUKEMIA AND LYMPHOMA
Many of the early symptoms of both cancers are general and could be associated with a variety of illnesses. These symptoms include:
• Extreme fatigue or weakness
• Infections and fever
• Easy bleeding or bruising
• Bone or joint pain
• Abdominal swelling
• Loss of appetite
• Unexplained weight loss
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Coughing, choking or trouble breathing
• Swelling of the face and arms
• Headaches, seizures or vomiting
• Rashes
• Gum problems

If you notice any of these symptoms in yourself, your child, or a family member, talk to a doctor as soon as possible so that he/she can do proper follow up and diagnose the underlying problem.

DIAGNOSIS OF LEUKEMIA OR LYMPHOMA
If symptoms suggest that you may possibly have one of these two blood cancers, your doctor will likely start with a physical exam and a review of your family medical history. At this time, he/she will do an examination of your lymph nodes as well. These will be followed by various blood tests to check the level of different substances in your blood including red and white blood cells and platelets.

Next, a doctor is likely to order one of more of the following tests:
• Bone marrow tests draw samples from your bone marrow. These samples are examined in order to determine which type of disease you may have.
• Molecular genetic studies can identify chromosome and/or gene abnormalities. This is used to direct future treatment.
• Lumbar puncture, commonly referred to as a spinal tap, is a test used to identify leukemia cells in the spinal fluid.
• A biopsy is a test in which a lymph node or tumor mass is removed and studied. This is useful in diagnosing different lymphomas.
• Imaging tests including chest X-rays, CT scans, bone scans are used to show if the disease has spread and if so, how far. It also shows whether treatment has been effective.

DIFFERENCES IN LEUKEMIA AND LYMPHOMA
Now that we have looked at the similarities in symptoms and diagnosis, let’s take a look at how they differ.

Cancer can affect any part of the body, including the blood. Leukemia and lymphoma are both forms of blood cancer, but they affect the body in different ways. The main difference is that leukemia affects the bone marrow and the blood that it produces, while lymphomas mainly affect the lymph nodes. Though there are some similarities between the two types of cancer, their causes, origins, symptoms, and treatments are different.

Both leukemia and lymphoma affect the blood and the immune system. They typically affect the white blood cells. Leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow that forms blood while lymphoma starts in the immune system and affects the lymph nodes and lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell.

LEUKEMIA
There are five different types of leukemia. The type depends on the rate of development and the type of cells where it begins.

The types include:
• acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
• chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
• acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
• chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
• chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML)

As you can see, they are categorized as acute or chronic. Acute leukemias start suddenly and progress rapidly while chronic types develop more slowly.

LYMPHOMA
The two main types of lymphoma are Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. They affect different types of white blood cells. The difference can be seen under a microscope by the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells or their absence. In Hodgkin lymphoma these cells are visible and in non-Hodgkin lymphoma, they are not. Of the two types, non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the most prevalent.

KEY DIFFERENCES AT A GLANCE
Leukemia:
• Most common childhood cancer
• Less prevalent than lymphomas
• Progressive and malignant of blood forming organs
• There is typically an excess of white blood cells
in the bloodstream.

Lymphoma:
• More common in older adults
• More common than leukemia
• Any malignancy of lymphoid tissue (organs
and cells)
• Lymphoma cells do not appear in the
bloodstream.

Leukemia and lymphoma are both types of cancer that affect white blood cells and the immune system. However, they are different in the way the affect the body.

Treatment with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy can help manage these diseases and, in many cases, cure them. However, the type of treatment and prognosis will vary depending on the type of cancer a person has. Survival rates for these and other cancers are constantly on the rise. As scientists learn more about the diseases and develop new ways of treating them, chances of surviving cancer are looking better all the time.

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