Before the patients begin receiving the treatments, the doctors must diagnose them first. Some ways that the doctors diagnose the patients are:
Other tests that doctors can perform are:
- Physical exam: doctors check for any physical signs and symptoms of leukemia, such as swollen liver or spleen.
- Blood test: The lab does a complete blood count to check the ratio between red blood cells and white blood cells because often, the white blood cells divide faster than the red blood cells.
- Biopsy: The doctor takes a sample of bone marrow using a hollow, thick needle (bone marrow aspiration) or remove a small piece of bone or a bone marrow using a hollow, thick needle (bone marrow biopsy) and check the tissue for any cancerous cells.
Other tests that doctors can perform are:
- Cytogenetics: The doctor checks the chromosomes of the cells to determine which kind of leukemia the patients have; for example, people with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia have a special type of chromosome called Philadelphia chromosomes.
- Chest X-ray: This can show any signs or symptoms of leukemia in the chest.
- Spinal Tap: The doctor uses a long, thin needle to remove a sample of fluid(cerebrospinal fluid) between the spinal chord and the brain from the lower spine to determine whether the patient has leukemia or not.
Created by: Minzee Kim