Cancer: Its Cause and Treatment, Volume 1 (of 2)Bulkley, Lucius Duncan
Science
Cancer: Its Cause and Treatment, Volume 1 (of 2)
Bulkley, Lucius Duncan
Cancer
The reported changes in the blood have also varied with the location of
the malignant disease, according as it may interfere mechanically or
otherwise with the function of certain organs, which fact naturally
obscures the question of the true relationship of the blood to cancer.
Thus, it is stated that in cancer of the liver and pancreas there is
always leucocytosis and glycogen, and that “cancer appears to interfere
greatly with the function of the liver as a destroyer of intestinal
toxins, they pass into the general circulation, probably cause the
glycogen reaction, and at least part of the leucocytosis, and very often
give rise to fever.” There are also other microscopical alterations in
the blood in late cancer. Thus, degenerative change in the leucocytes
are common, with derangement in the normal proportion of their different
forms, as also changes in the erythrocytes, with nucleated red cells and
megalocytes in severest cases.
Price Jones in a study of the blood in 30 cases of cancer (9 of the
breast) found the red blood cells diminished on an average of 6 per
cent., the white blood cells increased 38 per cent., lymphocytes
increased by 10 per cent., large mononuclear cells increased 164 per
cent. and polynuclears 42 per cent. Burnham states that in the severe
grades of anæmia with malignant disease, poikilocytosis is marked, and
nucleated cells of both normoblastic and megaloblastic type may be
present. The red corpuscles may be reduced to 2,500,000, and
exceptionally to 1,000,000. Cohnreich in a very technical study of blood
from cancer subjects, observed very great increase in the resisting
power of the red blood cells to osmotic tension, that is, in regard to
their hæmoglobin, which he believed to be of diagnostic value in
doubtful cases.
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