白血病小常识

英文医学词汇很多，我们一般来说比较少接触这些词。但有一个词倒是经常出现在报纸上。这个词就是 leukemia 或 leukaemia [luˋkimɪə] 白血病。前者是美式拼写，后者是英式拼写。(注意英式拼写有点不按常规，是 leukaemia 而不是 leukeamia)。下面来学习一篇比较简单的白血病科普小常识。

Leukemia is cancer of the blood cells. It starts in the bone marrow, the soft tissue inside most bones. Bone marrow is where blood cells are made.
白血病是血细胞癌。它从骨中的软组织(骨髓)开始。骨髓是制造血细胞的地方。
句子分析: the soft tissue inside most bones 是 bone marrow 的同位语。where blood cells are made 是where 引导的表语从句，表示“…的地方”。

White blood cells help your body fight infection. Red blood cells carry oxygen to all parts of your body. Platelets help your blood clot.　
白细胞能帮助身体抵抗感染。红细胞携带氧气到你身体的所有部位。血小板则有助于你的血液凝固。

When you have leukemia, the bone marrow starts to make a lot of abnormal white blood cells, called leukemia cells.
当你患白血病时，骨髓开始制造大量的异常白细胞，称为白血病细胞。

They don't do the work of normal white blood cells. They grow faster than normal cells, and they don't stop growing when they should.
这些白血病细胞起不到正常白细胞的作用。但它们比正常细胞生长得快，并且即使到了应该停止生长的限度，它们还是会继续地生长。

Over time, leukemia cells can crowd out the normal blood cells.
随着时间的推移，白血病细胞会排挤正常的血细胞。

This can lead to serious problems such as anemia, bleeding, and infections. Leukemia cells can also spread to the lymph nodes or other organs and cause swelling or pain.
这可能会导致贫血，出血，感染等严重问题。白血病细胞也可能扩散到淋巴结或其他器官，引起肿胀或疼痛。

Experts don't know what causes leukemia. Some things may increase your risk, such as being exposed to large amounts of radiation and being exposed to certain chemicals at work, such as benzene.
专家们不知道是什么原因引起白血病。有些因素可能会增加你患白血病的风险，比如暴露于大量的辐射和在工作中接触某些化学物质，如苯。
句子分析: 　being exposed 是动名词的被动语态。 be exposed to 意为 “暴露于…；易受...危害的”。

Symptoms may depend on what type of leukemia you have, but common symptoms include:
白血病的症状取决于你患的是什么类型，但常见的症状包括：

A new lump or swollen gland in your neck, under your arm, or in your groin.　
脖子上、胳膊下或腹股沟出现肿块或肿胀的腺体。

Frequent nosebleeds, bleeding from the gums or rectum, more frequent bruising, or very heavy menstrual bleeding.
经常流鼻血，牙龈或直肠出血，更频繁地出现瘀伤，或月经大量出血。

Frequent fevers.
经常发烧。

Night sweats.
盗汗。

Bone pain.
骨痛。

Unexplained appetite loss or recent weight loss.
不明原因的食欲减退或最近体重下降。

Feeling tired a lot without a known reason.
经常无故地感到累。

Swelling and pain on the left side of the belly.
腹部左侧肿胀和疼痛。