Fact 4. The Crucial Role of Bone Marrow in ALL
Bone marrow, the soft tissue inside our bones, is central to ALL. It’s the birthplace of blood cells. In a healthy scenario, the marrow produces stem cells that mature into red cells, white cells, and platelets. However, ALL disrupts this process.
With ALL, the marrow produces an excess of immature white blood cells called lymphoblasts. These cells, incapable of functioning effectively, start outnumbering the healthy cells. Over time, they inhibit the marrow’s ability to produce red cells and platelets.
It’s not just the quantity but the quality of these cells that’s concerning. Being immature, they can’t combat infections effectively. As their numbers swell, they begin to crowd out the bone marrow and infiltrate other parts of the body.
The bone marrow’s role isn’t limited to cell production. It’s also pivotal in diagnosing ALL. Bone marrow tests, like biopsies or aspirations, can confirm the presence of leukemia cells. These tests are invaluable in not only diagnosis but also in determining the disease’s progression. (4)
