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Detailed information on the most common types of inflammatory and infectious disorders in children
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A set of related cancers that form in the bone marrow and other blood-producing organs. Leukemia is named after the leukocytes, white blood cells which mutate before maturity and become cancerous.
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Detailed information on leukemia, including causes, stages, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment
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Leukemia is a cancer that starts in the organs that make blood, namely the bone marrow and the lymph system. Depending on specific characteristics, leukemia can be divided into two broad types: acute and chronic.
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Leukemia is a group of bone marrow diseases involving an uncontrolled increase in white blood cells (leukocytes). For information about a specific type of leukemia, see the following: Hairy cell leukemia Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) See also leukemia resources .
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What Is Leukemia?Cancer occurs when cells in the body begin changing in ways that aren't normal.
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Stages of LeukemiaLeukemia is different from other types of cancer. Most cancers begin as a tumor and spread to other parts of the body.
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Detailed overview of leukemia, including types, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment
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The Types of LeukemiaThe cells that were removed for your biopsy are looked at more closely during special tests. These tests help tell what kind of leukemia you have.
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Leukemia SymptomsNormal white blood cells help the body fight infections. Because leukemia cells are abnormal, they do not function as normal cells do.
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Leukemia PreventionThere is no sure way to prevent leukemia. In fact, most people with leukemia have no known risk factors.
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Leukemia Risk FactorsCertain factors can make one person more likely to get leukemia than another person. These are called risk factors.
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I've Just Been Told I Have Leukemia You have just been told, "You have leukemia." With these 3 words, you may feel that your world has stopped.
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Detailed information on leukemia in childhood, including symptoms, staging, diagnosis, and treatment
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What to Know About Targeted Therapies for LeukemiaTargeted therapy is a new type of treatment for some types of leukemia. It’s designed to "see" a certain change in a cancer cell.
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How Your Doctor Does a Biopsy to Check for LeukemiaIf your doctor thinks you might have leukemia, you will have a special kind of biopsy. For it, your doctor needs a small sample of bone marrow and bone.
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Do What You Can to Ease Symptoms of Leukemia and Side Effects of Treatment You will likely have physical concerns since your leukemia may cause symptoms and you may have side effects from your treatment. In this section, you’ll learn more about ho...
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What to Know About Radiation Therapy for LeukemiaThis treatment uses strong X-rays to kill leukemia cells. For leukemia, this treatment is most often used after a hematopoietic stem cell transplant.
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Leukemia Screening/Early DetectionNo standard screening process exists for detecting early stage leukemia. Doctors often detect chronic leukemia during routine blood count checks or screening tests, such as those conducted when a person seeks empl...
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Detailed information on leukemia in childhood, including symptoms, staging, diagnosis, and treatment
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Understanding the Goals of Treatment for LeukemiaLeukemia can be treated. Your treatment depends on all these things.The type of leukemia you haveThe phase or stage of your leukemiaYour age and general healthTreatment can control the leukemia.
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Frequently Asked Questions About LeukemiaListed below are some frequently asked questions about leukemia.Q: What is leukemia?A:Leukemia is cancer of the white blood cells.
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Can I Bem Cured of Leukemia?It’s normal to worry about what leukemia will mean for you and your family.
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What Tests Help My Doctor Find Leukemia?To find out whether you have leukemia, your doctor does a physical examination and other tests.
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Tips for Telling Your Healthcare Team How You Feel During Treatment for LeukemiaTreating your leukemia to get the best results is important. But your quality of life also matters.
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Tips for Feeling Your Best During Treatment for LeukemiaWhen you are being treated for leukemia, you will likely have side effects from that treatment and also, perhaps, symptoms of the disease itself. For instance, the leukemia itself can cause s...
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Common Side Effects After Targeted Therapy for LeukemiaIf you are having targeted therapy, your healthcare team will explain its side effects and help you manage them.Potential Side Effects of Monoclonal TherapyHere are the main side effects of mo...
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How You Take Targeted Therapy for LeukemiaHow you get targeted therapy depends on the kind you get.How You Take Monoclonal TherapyYou get monoclonal therapy by intravenous (IV) needle or under the skin 3 times a week. You won’t need to stay in a h...
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How You Can Get Radiation Therapy for LeukemiaOnce your radiation oncologist has mapped out your treatment plan, aradiation therapisttreats you. There are a few ways to do that.External radiation to your whole body.This is calledtotal body irradia...
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Understanding Clinical Trials for LeukemiaA clinical trial is when a new treatment is tested. It tests treatments that may work better or cause fewer problems than current treatments.
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What to Know About Surgery for LeukemiaSurgery can do little to treat leukemia. For chronic leukemia, though, it is helpful in some cases.
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What Happens to Your Blood When You Have LeukemiaThe hallmark of leukemia is often an increase in the number of white blood cells. It’s ironic that mass production of white blood cells--your body’s infection fighters--actually causes you harm.
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Where to Find Support for LeukemiaDealing with these feelings is often easier as you learn more about your disease and get support. Doctors, nurses, and other members of your healthcare team can answer questions about your concerns.
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Follow-Up Appointments Matter During Treatment for LeukemiaMany side effects of treatment are not serious. They end once the treatment ends.
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Common Side Effects After Radiation Therapy for LeukemiaRadiation affects normal cells as well as cancer cells. It may cause side effects.
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Statistics About LeukemiaSome people use statistics to try to figure out their chances of getting cancer or of being cured. Statistics show what happens with large groups of people.
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Leukemia: Supportive Care for Acute PatientsWhen many people think of cancer care, they may think of traditional treatments such as chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. These treatments are used to get rid of cancer cells in the body.
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Common Side Effects After a Stem Cell Transplant for LeukemiaYou and your doctor will talk all about stem cell transplants and their side effects before you have it done. After this treatment, you will have a weakened immune system.
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Common Side Effects After Chemotherapy for LeukemiaSide effects of chemotherapy depend upon the type and amount of drugs you take. They vary from person to person.
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What to Know About Complementary, Integrative, and Alternative Care for LeukemiaYou may have heard a lot about alternative or complementary care. These are a group of practices and products that are not yet thought of as a part of standard medicin...
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Tests You May Need Once You Know You Have LeukemiaOnce you know you have leukemia, your doctor will likely do more tests. Most people need more than one.What the Tests Show Your DoctorHere’s what your doctor is trying to learn from these tests.Con...
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Lymphomas are a group of cancers in which cells of the lymphatic system become abnormal and start to grow uncontrollably. Because there is lymph tissue in many parts of the body, lymphomas can start in almost any organ of the body.
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Detailed information on lymphomas, including Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
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Lymphoma is the name of a diverse group of cancers of the lymphatic system, a connecting network of glands, organs and vessels whose principle cell is the lymphocyte. When lymphoma occurs, cells in the lymphatic system grow abnormally.
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Can I Survive Lymphoma? What Is My Prognosis?
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What to Know About Follow-up Appointments After Treatment for LymphomaMany side effects of treatment end once the treatment ends. But others may develop over time.
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Malignant lymphomas are a group of cancers in which cells of the lymphatic system become abnormal and start to grow uncontrollably and spread (metastasize) throughout the body. Because lymph tissue is in many parts of the body, lymphomas can start in almost any organ of the body.
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Lymphomas are a group of cancers in which cells of the lymphatic system become abnormal and start to grow uncontrollably. Because there is lymph tissue in many parts of the body, lymphomas can start in almost any organ of the body.
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Multiple myeloma is a cancer in which antibody-producing plasma cells grow in an uncontrolled and invasive (malignant) manner. Multiple myeloma, also known as plasma cell myeloma, is the second-most common cancer of the blood.
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Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells in bone marrow.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Multiple MyelomaHere are some answers to frequently asked questions about multiple myeloma.Q:What is multiple myeloma?A:Multiple myeloma is a kind of cancer that begins in plasma cells, a type of white blood cell.
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Multiple Myeloma and Other Plasma Cell NeoplasmsDescriptionWhat are plasma cell neoplasms?Plasma cell neoplasms are diseases in which certain cells in the blood (called plasma cells) become cancer.
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What Is Multiple Myeloma?To help you understand what is happening when you have cancer, it helps to understand how your body works normally.
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Cancer that arises in the bone marrow and involves plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that produces proteins called immunoglobulins. Kate Kretschmann
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Detailed information on myeloma bone disease, including causes, risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment
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I’ve Just Been Told I Have Multiple MyelomaMultiple myeloma is a type of cancer. And there are very few things scarier than being told you have cancer.
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How Does My Doctor Know I Have Multiple Myeloma?Your doctor may find myeloma during a routine visit, even if you don’t have symptoms.
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Can Multiple Myeloma Be Prevented?Unfortunately, doctors have not yet found a way to prevent multiple myeloma.
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Am I At Risk for Multiple Myeloma?There is no way to know for sure if you’re going to get multiple myeloma.
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Can I Be Checked for Multiple Myeloma Before I Have Symptoms?Screening tests check for signs of cancer in people who don’t have any symptoms.
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What Are the Symptoms of Multiple Myeloma?There are often no symptoms in the early stages of myeloma.
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What to Know About Supportive Treatments for Multiple MyelomaYou may have supportive treatments for multiple myeloma. These treatments don’t cure the myeloma, but they can help treat your symptoms.For bone pain,your doctor may give you a back or n...
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What to Know About Bone Marrow Transplant for Multiple MyelomaThis treatment destroys your bone marrow to get rid of the cancer cells there. Then your bone marrow is replaced either with your bone marrow or with marrow from a donor.If your own bon...
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What to Know About Immunotherapy for Multiple MyelomaThis type of treatment gets your immune system to more effectively attack the cancer cells.Thalomid (thalidomide)is an immunotherapy drug that works very well in people who do not respond well t...
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Types and Goals of Treatment for Multiple MyelomaEach type of treatment for multiple myeloma has a different goal. Here is a list of main treatments and their goals for myeloma.
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Staying Fit With Multiple MyelomaMultiple myeloma is a cancer that harms plasma cells in the bone marrow. Plasma cells normally help fight infection, but in this case, they become cancerous.
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What to Know About Your Treatment Options for Multiple MyelomaYour treatment options for multiple myeloma depend on how much the cancer has affected your health, kidney function, and other organs. The goal of treatment is to control the cancer for...
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How Multiple Myeloma SpreadsMultiple myeloma tends to stay in the bone marrow. It affects areas of the body where bone marrow is present.
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What to Know About Chemotherapy for Multiple MyelomaChemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. For this treatment, you will see amedical oncologist.This is a doctor who specializes in using drugs to treat cancer.
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What to Know About Stem Cell Transplant for Multiple MyelomaThis treatment for multiple myeloma is similar to a bone marrow transplant. It destroys your bone marrow to get rid of the cancer cells there.
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What to Know About Radiation Therapy for Multiple MyelomaRadiation therapy is one way to treat multiple myeloma. This treatment is also called radiotherapy.
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Do What You Can to Ease Side Effects of Treatment for Multiple MyelomaIt’s likely that you will have physical concerns since your cancer may cause symptoms and your treatment may cause side effects. In this section, you’ll learn more about how to ...
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Potential Side Effects From Bone Marrow or Stem Cell TransplantsThe early side effects of transplants are mostly from the high-dose chemotherapy you get before the transplant, not from the transplant itself. These should go away as you recover fro...
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Potential Side Effects of Radiation Therapy for Multiple MyelomaRadiation affects both normal cells and cancer cells. This means it can cause side effects.
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Potential Side Effects of Immunotherapy for Multiple MyelomaOne of the main immunotherapy drugs used for multiple myeloma isThalomid (thalidomide).Not everyone who takes this drug has side effects. If you do, they may include one or more of these,...
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Light The Night for Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma Awareness MonthEach year, families across the nation take a step in the right direction to further the fight against blood cancers.More than 670,000 Americans are afflicted with leukemia, lymphoma...
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Understanding the Stages of Multiple MyelomaBefore deciding on treatment options, your doctor will need to know the extent, or stage, of the multiple myeloma. Your doctor will look at the results of blood tests, X-rays, and bone marrow tests to de...
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Tell Your Healthcare Team How You Feel During Treatment for Multiple MyelomaTreating your cancer to get the best results is important. But your quality of life also matters.
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Finding Support During Treatment for Multiple MyelomaDealing with your feelings is often easier as you learn more about the cancer and get support from others. Your healthcare team can answer your questions.
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Tips for Feeling Your Best During Treatment for Multiple MyelomaThe treatments to destroy cancer cells can harm healthy cells at the same time, and that means treatment can cause side effects.Side effects affect each person differently. Some peopl...
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Potential Side Effects From Chemotherapy for Multiple MyelomaChemotherapy affects both normal cells and cancer cells. Side effects depend on the type and amount of drugs you take.
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Multiple myeloma is a cancer in which antibodyproducing plasma cells grow in an uncontrolled and invasive (malignant) manner. Multiple myeloma, also known as plasma cell myeloma, is the second-most common cancer of the blood.
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Statistics for Multiple MyelomaSome people use statistics to try to figure out their chance of getting cancer or of being cured. It is important to remember that this data shows what happens with large groups of people.
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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology that primarily targets synovial tissues. It is relatively common with a prevalence of approximately 1% in adults all over the world.
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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and deformity of the joints. Other problems throughout the body (systemic problems) may also develop, including inflammation of blood vessels ( vasculitis ), the development of bumps (called rheumatoid nodules) in various parts of the body, lung disease, blood disorders, and weakening of the bones ( osteoporosis ).
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Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic (long-term) disease that causes inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues. It can also affect other organs.
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What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis?Rheumatoid arthritisis a disease that affects the lining of the joints, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness.
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The following Clinical Topic Tour provides an overview of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and was adapted from materials published by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
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Many people with rheumatoid arthritis believe there's nothing they can do to ease their pain and stiffness, but they're wrong.
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Detailed information on rheumatoid arthritis, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment
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Detailed information on rheumatoid arthritis, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment
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Detailed information on rheumatoid arthritis, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment
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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by symmetric inflammatory polyarthritis and varying degrees of extraarticular involvement. A chronic fluctuating course of the disease is experienced by most patients that may result in joint destruction, deformity, disability and premature death. 1?4 Major economic and emotional disabilities can result from RA and can have a significant impact on patients? families and loved ones.
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Researchers believe that enough evidence exists now to list rheumatoid arthritis as a marker of increased heart attack risk. The next step is to examine how people with RA might alter their drug treatment plan or make lifestyle changes to reduce their risk for heart attack.
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Over the past twenty years the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has undergone dramatic changes, particularly in the past five years. Traditionally, RA was diagnosed late in the disease course, the symptoms were treated without addressing the underlying damaging nature of RA, referral to specialist teams was delayed, and drugs that might slow the disease process down (disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)) were introduced after joints had eroded.
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Arthritis cannot be cured, but treatment can help manage the pain and prevent serious disability.
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Can rheumatoid arthritis cause degenerative bone cysts?
Diana Post, M.D., is an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and a member of the Department of Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
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The treatment goals include reducing joint swelling, relieving stiffness, preventing joint damage and maintaining joint function.
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Treating rheumatoid arthritis early and aggressively can help reduce joint damage and disability.
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Is there any connection between rheumatoid arthritis and alcohol consumption? Does a prior history of waterborne hepatitis predispose a person to RA?
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The RF is an antibody detectable in the blood in about 70 percent of persons with rheumatoid arthritis but can often be found in other people as well. In fact, healthy people with no arthritis and no medical problems at all make tiny amounts of this antibody.
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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease of the joints, the cause of which is still unknown. Infectious factors are being studied, including bacterial and viral organisms, but no definite involvement of any agent has been proven.
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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease causing inflammation and deformity of the joints. Other systemic problems throughout the body may also develop, including inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis), the development of bumps (rheumatoid nodules) in various parts of the body, lung disease, blood disorders, and weakening of the bones ( osteoporosis ).
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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the joints, most often in the hands and feet. It results in swelling, stiffness, pain, and sometimes joint, bone, and cartilage destruction.
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