Why Take a CBC Test for Leukemia (Complete Blood Count Test)

A diagnostic blood test called a complete blood count (CBC) diagnoses leukemia. If the patient’s CBC shows abnormal white blood cell levels or low platelets, he or she may have leukemia. The physician will order a bone marrow biopsy to determine the type of leukemia. However, there are many ways to get a leukemia diagnosis.

This article will discuss why you must take a CBC blood test for leukemia!

CBC Test Importance: Why Take The CBC Test?

A CBC or complete blood count aims to check general health and screen for possible conditions like anemia or leukemia in a medical exam. It is also crucial in diagnosing a disease. Moreover, a complete blood count helps root the cause of symptoms like fatigue, fever, and weakness.

Your doctor will conduct a complete blood count (CBC) to determine if you have leukemia. This test may reveal if you have leukemic cells. Abnormal levels of white blood cells and abnormally low red blood cell or platelet counts can also indicate leukemia.

Full Blood Count Interpretation

A full blood count (FBC) test looks for abnormalities in your blood, such as unusually high or low numbers of blood cells. Did you know? Seven to eight percent of your body weight is composed of blood, which has four (4) main components. The main element is a liquid called plasma, composed of water, fat, protein, sugar, and salts, while blood cells compose the remaining forty (40) percent.

The blood cells are:

• Red Blood Cells – The RBC (red blood cells) have hemoglobin, which carries oxygen, and iron – a crucial component in carrying oxygen around the body.
• White Blood Cells (WBC) – White blood cells are a group of leukocytes. They fight infection and have different types. Moreover, they combat infection collectively.  Lymphocytes, eosinophils, monocytes, neutrophils, and basophils are types of white blood cells.
• Platelets – They assist in clotting the blood. As a result, the bleeding stops.

You can also get it at a diagnostic laboratory near me. They can also be run in a reference laboratory management. If you’re lucky enough to book an executive check-up, these can be done on the same day.

Leukemia Treatment

The kind of treatment you’ll get depends on the leukemia you have, your health, your age, and whether the disease has spread to other tissues or organs.

Most treatments are usually combinations. They are:

• Chemotherapy – Considered the most common form of leukemia treatment, Chemotherapy uses chemicals to fight and kill leukemia cells and keep them from multiplying. The chemicals are in medication form, injection form, or shots under the skin.
• Immunotherapy – This is a biologic therapy that uses drugs to fortify the body’s defense system so that it can fight off leukemia. The immune system spots cancer cells and arms itself by producing more cancer cells to fight them off.
• Radiation therapy – X-rays and strong beams are used in radiation therapy. During treatment, a machine directs radiation to the whole body.
• Targeted therapy – With targeted therapy, drugs attack very specific parts of a leukemia cell. It is also less harmful than normal cells. Monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors are part of the drugs for targeted therapy.

CBC tests for leukemia are incredibly crucial to help treat the disease. It can be a hazardous disease, and fighting it is an option. It is also essential to understand and interpret the results of the CBC blood test. 

The Best Quality CBC Blood Test For Leukemia At Davao 

Davao Doctors’ Hospital (DDH) is Mindanao’s largest and most modern private hospital. It offers innovative diagnostic, therapeutic, and intensive care services. We also provide a CBC test using the same advanced technology as Medi Linx Laboratory Inc.