14.Leukemia

Student: Professor Smith, could you tell us something about leukemia?

史密斯教授，能给我们讲讲白血病吗

Professor: Well, leukemia is a cancer of the blood which usually affects the white blood cells.

白血病就是血癌，通常会影响白细胞

S：It is usually considered a fatal disease, but what's the cause of leukemia?

白血病通常是致命的疾病，那它的病因是什么呢？

P：The causes of most types of leukemia isn't known. But at least we may know the underlying risk factors.

大多数病因尚不清楚。但至少我们能知道它的一些潜在危险因素。

S：Would you like to tell us what the underlying factors are?

能告诉我们有哪些潜在因素吗？

P：Experts believe exposure to radiation and certain chemicals and use of some anticancer drugs increase the risk of developing leukemia.

专家认为长期接触辐射和化学物品，以及服用抗癌药物都会增加患白血病的风险。

S：Is leukemia infections?

白血病会传染吗

P：Of course not. But people with certain genetic disorders are most likely to develop leukemia.

当然不会。但是患有某些遗传病的病人可能染白血病。

S：How many types of leukemia do we know?

我们已经知道的白血病有多少种

P：There are four major types of leukemia: acute lymphocytic leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute myeloblastic leukemia and chronic myelocytic leukemia.

主要有四种：急性淋巴细胞白血病、慢性淋巴细胞白血病、急性粒细胞白血病和慢性粒细胞白血病

S：How are they named as such?

为何这样命名呢

P：They are named for how quickly they progress and which kind of white blood cells they affect.

他们是按发展快慢和影响的白细胞类型命名的

S：Today would you please focus on the acute lymphocytic leukemia?

今天能主要谈谈急性淋巴细胞白血病吗

P：Patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia often feel weak and short of breath.

患有急性淋巴细胞白血病的患者一般会感到虚弱和气短

S：How do the acute leukemia affect the patient?

急性白血病对病人有什么影响呢

P：In some people, a severe infection is the first problem. But in the others, the onset is more subtle, only with progressive weakness, fatigue and paleness.

对某些患者来说，严重感染是首要问题，但另一些患者常常不易察觉，仅仅是渐进性虚弱，疲乏和苍白

S：Any other symptoms besides weakness and fatigue?

除了虚弱和疲乏还有其他症状吗

P：Bleeding may occur in the form of nosebleeds, gum bleeding, purple skin blotches or easy bruising.

也可能伴有出血，如鼻出血，牙龈出血，皮肤出现紫红斑或容易青肿。

SWhat tests are perdormed for diagnosis?

哪些检查能诊断呢

P：Common blood tests can provide the first evidence that a person has leukemia.

一般的血液检查能够提供病人患白血病早期证明

S：Are there any other tests for dianosis

还有其他检查能诊断吗

P：About marrow biopsy is almost performed to confirm the diagnosis and determine the type of leukemia

骨髓活检基本上能确诊，并且确定白血病类型

S：How about the treatment

治疗的情况如何呢

P：Treatment may last 2 to 3 years, although some courses are somewhat shorter.  The combination of several chemotherapy drugs is commonly used

治疗可能持续2～3年，虽然有些疗程会短一些，通常要使用几种化疗药物

S：Could you tell me what is the goal of treatment?

治疗目的是什么呢

P：The goal of treatment is to achieve complete remission by destroying leukemia cells

目的是通过破坏癌细胞的达到缓解

S：I see. What the prognosis?

明白了，那预后情况呢

P：Children between the age of 3 to 7 have the best prognosis while people over 20 are less successful.

3~7岁预后最佳，20岁以上预后会差一点