Leukemia: Causes, Symptoms, and How to Prevent This Disease

Did you know that leukemia is sometimes called the “silent disease”? That’s because its early signs can be so subtle that it’s easy to think you just have a bad flu or that accumulated exhaustion has finally caught up with you.

It is not just one condition, but a group of blood disorders that can affect anyone, regardless of age or how healthy they may appear on the outside.

This Is What It Really “Does”

In simple terms, leukemia causes a malfunction in your body’s blood “factory,” which is the bone marrow. Instead of producing healthy cells to protect you, it starts creating defective white blood cells in massive amounts. These cells serve no useful purpose, but they take up so much space that they prevent healthy cells from doing their job.

When there is no room left for red blood cells or platelets, you may end up feeling constantly tired or notice bruises appearing out of nowhere, even without having been injured.

This Is What It “Doesn’t Do”

It is important to clarify that this is not something that “spreads” like a cold, nor is it a direct consequence of eating poorly. It also does not mean that you will look “sick” from the very first day; in the beginning, many people look completely normal. And most importantly, it does not mean there is no hope.