What is spleen cancer?

The spleen is an organ located in the upper far left part of the abdomen, to the left of the stomach. The spleen varies in size and shape between people, but it’s commonly fist-shaped, purple, and about 4 inches long. Because the spleen is protected by the rib cage, you can’t easily feel it unless it’s abnormally enlarged.

The spleen plays multiple supporting roles in the body. It acts as a filter for blood as part of the immune system. Old red blood cells are recycled in the spleen, and platelets (a small colorless disk-shaped cell fragment without a nucleus, found in large numbers in blood and involved in clotting)

And white blood cells are stored there. The spleen also helps fight certain kinds of bacteria that cause pneumonia and meningitis.

Spleen Conditions

Spleen  Enlarged (Splenomegaly): An enlarged spleen, usually caused by viral mononucleosis (“mono”), liver disease, blood cancers (lymphoma and leukemia), or other conditions.

Rupture Spleen: The spleen is vulnerable to injury, and a ruptured spleen can cause serious life-threatening internal bleeding and is a life-threatening emergency. An injured spleen may rupture immediately after an injury, or in some cases, days or weeks after an injury.

Sickle Cell Disease: In this inherited form of anemia, abnormal red blood cells block the flow of blood through vessels and can lead to organ damage, including damage to the spleen. People with sickle cell disease need immunizations to prevent illnesses their spleen helped fight.

Thrombbocytopenia: (low platelet count): An enlarged spleen sometimes stores excessive numbers of the body’s platelets. Splenomegaly can result in abnormally few platelets circulating in the bloodstream where they belong.

Accessory Spleen: About 10% of people have a small extra spleen. This causes no problems and is considered normal.

Spleen Tests

Physical Examination: By pressing on the belly under the left ribcage, a doctor can feel an enlarged spleen. He or she can also look for other signs of illnesses that cause splenomegaly.

Computed Tomography: scanner takes multiple X-rays and a computer creates detailed images of the abdomen. Contrast dye may be injected into your veins to improve the images.

Ultrasound: A probe is placed on the belly, and harmless sound waves create images by reflecting off the spleen and other organs. Splenomegaly can be detected by ultrasound.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Magnetic waves create highly detailed images of the abdomen. By using contrast dye, blood flow to the spleen can also be measured with MRI.

Bone Marrow Biopsy: A needle is inserted into a large bone (such as the pelvis) and a sample of bone marrow is taken out. Leukemia or lymphoma which cause splenomegaly, are sometimes diagnosed by bone marrow biopsy.

Liver and Spleen Scan: A small amount of radioactive dye is injected into the arm.  The dye moves throughout the body and is collected in both of these organs.

Spleen Treatments

Splenectomy: The spleen is removed by surgery, either through laparoscopy (multiple small incisions) or laparotomy (one large incision).

Vaccinations: After spleen removal, it’s important to get vaccinations against certain bacteria, such as H. influenza and S. pneumonia. An absent spleen increases vulnerability to these infections.

Usually, treatments for spleen conditions focus not on the spleen, but on treating the underlying condition.

How to Strengthen Your Spleen Function

The spleen serves many purposes, from aiding in digestion to producing chemicals that destroy and recycle old blood cells. It's also your personal blood bank in case of serious blood loss. If not working properly it causes many ailments such as obesity, bloating, muscle weakness, loose stool and constipation. 

Immediate removal is necessary if it becomes enlarged or ruptured. There are many ways, however, to strengthen your spleens function.

Step 1

Chew your food thoroughly. It is recommended you shew each bite 30 times, unless you're eating soft foods such as ice cream or soup. Chewing thoroughly softens food, makes it easier for the body to digest and mixes it with saliva--the latter of which alkalizes it, which allows your body to absorb vital nutrients.

Step 2

Stop overeating. Think of digestion like an assembly line. Your body is processing food at a normal pace and then suddenly a huge load is dumped. This causes the digestive system to panic and use increased energy to push the load through quickly.
The extra energy expended leaves you and your digestive organs feeling tired, and digestion is not as thorough. Over time, overeating can weaken the spleen and other vital digestive organs.

Step 3

Eat healthier. For optimal spleen health, you should be eating an equal mix of meat, dairy, fruits and grains, with lots of vegetables. Choose only lean meat, and whole grains. Vegetables such as leafy

greens and root veggies like sweet potatoes will nourish your spleen and keep blood sugar levels even

Step 4

Drink warm liquids. When food or liquid is too cold, the body must heat it. This takes energy away from the digestive system, putting additional strain on it. Drinking warm liquid such as tea before

ingesting cold food or drink is a valuable trick because it pre-heats the digestive system, including the spleen.

Step 5

Go natural. Western medicine has long maintained that acupuncture hand herbal medicines can help improve spleen function along with many other benefits. A 2003 study published in The Journal of

Medical Acupuncture concluded that subjects of acupuncture lost three times more weight than those who didn't, largely because of increased spleen function.

There are many herbal kits that claim to detoxify and support your spleen. Do your research and make sure the company is reputable. Quality products could cost a bit more, but in the long run it will be worth it.