How does leukemia affect different body systems?
Leukemia is a cancer that starts in the bone marrow. Early on, there are no symptoms of leukemia, but later on the following symptoms can develop.
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Easy bruising
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Swollen lymph nodes
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Fatigue
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Easy bleeding
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Weight loss
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Frequent infections
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Shortness of breath
Treatments
Leukemia has a survival rate of around 80 percent. Some of the treatments include chemotherapy, radiation, and stem cell transplants. Some side effects of treatment can be hair loss, constipation, nausea, fatigue, and appetite changes
Systems
Circulatory System
The circulatory system consists of the heart and blood vessels, and it pumps blood throughout the body. Leukemia can cause abnormal production of white blood cells, which thickens the blood and can cause clots. The circulatory system also transports lymph from the lymphatic system throughout the body to help the immune system. The circulatory system also can transport the cancer to different parts of the body through the blood.
Immune System
The immune system is what helps our body defend against viruses and diseases. It prevents us from getting sick. Leukemia affects the immune system when the cancer starts to affect the production of blood cells. Since the immune system is made of blood cells, the function of the immune system is decreased, so the patient is likely to get frequent infections. The white blood cells come from lymph, made by the lymphatic system.
Lymphatic System
The lymphatic system consists of tissues and organs that get rid of unwanted materials. Leukemia can cause swollen lymph nodes when they work to filter out the infected cells. The lymphatic system produces lymph, which contains white blood cells that are part of the immune system. If the lymphatic system stops working, there are not enough white blood cells for the immune system to function.
Overall Impact
Leukemia has many different effects. In general, the function of the body can be decreased when the immune system is impacted. Leukemia patients have a general feeling of illness all the time, whereas a healthy person only feels sick when they are actually sick.
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