CD38 (Plasma Cell / Prognostic Cll Marker) in Santacruz East, Mumbai

The CD38 Plasma Cell Test is a blood sample test that offers an accurate clinical diagnosis of the presence of CLL (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia). This disease is a cancer that originates in your blood and bone marrow and has detrimental effects on your body.

To understand the disease better, let's break down its name first. The word 'chronic' is an indication that the disease progresses slower than other forms of Leukemia. Secondly, the term 'Lymphocytic' stands for the cells affected by the disease, i.e., Lymphocytes (White Blood Cells).

Therefore, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia refers to a bone marrow cancer that progresses gradually. The disease might not display a lot of symptoms at first, but they will show up once the cancer progresses. Here are some of the most notable symptoms of CLL:

• Night sweats 
• Frequent infections 
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Enlarged yet painless lymph nodes
• Abdominal pain (upper left portion) -  caused by an enlarged spleen

The cause of CLL is not yet known, but experts do know that it is caused due to cellular mutations within the human body. This refers to the blood-producing cells in particular, and hence they end up producing more defective lymphocytes. As the number of these lymphocytes increases, the number of healthy lymphocytes goes down.

As a result, the cancer will interfere with healthy blood cell production. Although the cause of the cancer is still unknown, health experts have narrowed down several risk factors that might increase your chances of contracting it. They are as follows:

• Exposure to chemicals such as herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, etc.
• Ailments like Monoclonal B-cell Lymphocytosis. 
• Family history of bone marrow and blood cancer. 
• Age: The risk is higher for older individuals. 
• Race: People who are caucasian/white are at a higher risk. 
• Ethnicity: People who are Eastern European or Russian Jew have a higher risk.

Constant exposure to such risk factors can significantly increase your likelihood of contracting the disease and serious complications such as:

• Immune system issues
• Increased risk of other and more dangerous forms of cancer
• Frequent infections 
• A switch to a much more faster and aggressive form of cancer

Just like any other form of cancer, you need to catch this disease quite early on. You can then start treatment beforehand and get ahead of the ailment. If you suspect that you have CLL, you can opt for Apollo 24|7!

If you notice in any swelling in lymph nodes, consult a physician immediately. Here are a few questions they might ask you to get a better understanding of the situation:

• Have you had a fever for some time now?
• Do you experience shortness of breath? 
• What kinds of medication do you consume?
• Are you constantly losing weight?
• Have you had any recurring infections recently?
• Have you been injured recently?
• Have you been diagnosed with an immune system disease recently?

The disease will progress gradually for people who are in the initial stages of CLL. The cancer spreads faster if you are closer to its final stages. Here is the risk attribution to every stage of CLL:

• Stage 0: Low risk
• Stages 1 and 2: Intermediate risk
• Stages 3 and 4: High risk

So, get the CD38 test done now! The CD38 test cost is as per the market standards, and you will receive the test results within 72 hours.