It appears that at this time the leukemia is affecting the spleen and if there is a failure of chemo treatment then the next step is to remove the spleen. Something about absorbing chemo drugs and the spleen being a “bank” for the abnormal blood cells. In all likelihood early removal through larascopic (spelling?) surgery is preferred since the spleen is swelling/growing.
Isn’t the spleen important? Anyone here personally have their spleen removed?
Posts: 4066 | Location: Neither here nor there | Registered: 06-03-02
The spleen helps to fight infection and to filter blood. There are 2 types of tissue in the spleen - referred to as white pulp and red pulp. Within the white pulp white blood cells are produced and these blood cells produce antibodies which protects the body. The red pulp filters blood. It contains phagocytes which are white blood cells that absorb microorganisms like bacteria and viruses. It also filters the red blood cells and destroys abnormal cells as well as acts as a reservoir for white blood cells and platelets.
And while the spleen does have a function, people can live without one. However, they are at high risk for pneumococcal infections because the spleen does fight certain types of bacteria - pneumococcus being a major one.
A co-worker of mine was in a tragic accident the beginning of this year and sustained major internal damage. She had to have her spleen removed and is closely monitored because she has developed many infections since.
Posts: 9192 | Location: Atlanta, GA, USA | Registered: 06-03-02
The increased risk of infection is mainly confined to certain bugs, and it's routine to receive vaccinations for those bugs ahead of splenectomy which lowers that risk considerably. It's best to get the immunizations at least a week or more ahead of the operation.
Posts: 1505 | Location: Puget Sound, USA | Registered: 06-03-02
My wife had her spleen removed in '86 just after the birth of our second son-the Ultrasound revealed a large mass so when they went in they discovered what they term a Terra toma-it was a mixture of Hair, Skin, Brain tissue & Calcium deposits
she had 2 miscarriagesin '80 and '81 and the surgeon said that the human body is like a garbage dump-it can store things for years and in the case of my wife the mass that was part fleshly and the other part hairy weighed 5 pounds and the spleen was suppling bood to the mass and it was growing1 I kid you not tho it sounds like a Halloween story
Its true the spleen fights off infection as my wife when she gets really sic needs anti-biotics to help fight off the cold-tho we do wonder what she will do when a superbug-if it ever hits her...how she wull fight it off especially when you hear of some anti-biotics that may not be able to stop a superbug
....anywaywhen she had the operation she went from 120 lbs to 105 in less than 3 days-her left lung collapsed and she was in intensive care for 3 days-our oldest who was only 2 years old was at a relatives and so when i went o see her at the ICU I also went to see our newborn a few floors away as she was still breastfeeding him-Women have got to be the Dominabt species-I think if we guys had to do half if that stuff we would crack under the strain...in other news unrelated to this
i am off to Nova Scotia on Wed. night from toronto airport at 11:55PM as my Father has been diagnosed with terminal cancer...I f someone thinks of it, please pray for our family...
Sorry to hear about your father cyberlaol, my thoughts are with you and your family. If you want to request the prayers of AnswerPool members, you should post in the Prayers & Prayer Requests forum.
