A leukemia cancer diagnosis is usually obtained when people first visit their family physician for a routine test and blood abnormalities can be picked up. Physicians will ask whether the patient has any specific symptoms, and they may also perform a physical examination. Based on the information they retrieve from this, the patient may be referred to another specialist, who will be able to conduct further tests specifically for leukemia or other issues.
Understanding the Leukemia Cancer Diagnosis:
Many people say that the process of receiving a leukemia cancer diagnosis is frustrating and lengthy. While it is natural to be worried, it is important to remember that it cannot be concluded that leukemia is the cause without other tests, as the symptoms can also be the result of a different condition. These conditions must first be ruled out.
If certain people have severe symptoms, however, it could mean that they have acute leukemia. This is a rapidly progressing disease. At that point, the patient will have to be admitted to a hospital almost immediately so that treatment can start straight away.
In order to either diagnose or rule out leukemia, a number of tests are commonly requested. The tests often used to come up with a cancer diagnosis are also important in terms of finding out the stage of the cancer and its progression. Furthermore, it is likely that tests will be required to determine what the overall state of the patient's health is, which will in turn influence the treatment that will be provided.
Diagnostics tests include:
- A physical examination and taking the patient's medical history
- A CBC (complete blood count)
- Clotting and bleeding factors
- Blood chemistry tests
- Immunophenotyping
- Cytochemistry
- Biopsy and bone marrow aspiration
- Molecular and cytogenic studies
- Lymph node biopsy
- Lumbar puncture
- Staging and other tests include:
- Chest x-ray
- Blood chemistry test
- MRI
- CT scan
- Ultrasound
Physical Examination and Taking the Patient's Medical History:
The patient's health history is the start of the diagnostic process. The health history will show what types of symptoms the patients had throughout their life, whether they have any risk factors that may contribute to the development of leukemia, and whether they have had any problems in the past. Doctors will likely ask some personal questions, which will help them to determine whether there is reason to believe leukemia is present.
Some of the things they will look for include:
- Whether the patient has been exposed to radiation
- Whether the patient has typical leukemia symptoms
- Whether the patient has a genetic syndrome
- Whether the patient has been exposed to benzene
- Whether the patient has had radiotherapy or chemotherapy before
- Whether the patient has a blood disorder
- Whether the patient has a viral infection
- Whether the patient has a leukemia family history
They will also perform a physical examination, which includes:
- Checking vital signs, measuring heart rate, blood oxygenation, and temperature
- Checking whether the patient is pale or has bruises
- Whether the lymph nodes in the inguinal (groin), axillary (underarm), or neck are enlarged or swollen
- Checking to see whether there is gum or mouth swelling, bleeding, or infection
- Checking whether the organs in the abdomen are enlarged
- Checking whether the patient has any pain or tenderness in the skeleton