Leukemia
LeukemiaLeukemia
Leukemia is a disease that affects blood-forming tissues,
mainly bone marrow. Leukemia also affects the lymph glands
and spleen. Leukemia causes the body to produce an extreme
amount of abnormal white blood cells. This causes
infections because the abnormal cells cannot stop
infections like the normal cells do. Leukemia also causes
anemia. Anemia is a disease in which the body makes less
blood cells. This happens because the leukemic cells crowd
the system. Leukemia also causes excessive bleeding. This
happens because the amount of platelets will decrease and
clotting will not occur,
Researchers think a change in genetic structure causes
leukemia. Changes in gene structure could be caused by
environmental problems. Some of these problems could be:
birth defects, radiation, viruses, and chemicals. Leukemia
is not inherited and is not contagious.
There are two major types of Leukemia, Lymphocytic and
Granulocytic. In Lymphocytic Leukemia white blood cells
known as Lymphocytes, which are made in the Lymph glands
and bone marrow are abnormal or immature. In Granulocytic
Leukemia this causes an increase in white blood cells known
as granulocytes. Granulocytes are made in the bone marrow,
and other tissue. Granulocytes that are affected by
leukemia cannot fight of infections.
There are two ways in which leukemia can occur. One is
acute, and the other is chronic. Acute leukemia is found
most in children. It progresses rapidly. Acute leukemia
causes red blood cells to decrease, the cells are then
replaced by abnormal ones. This causes anemia. Life
expectancy is short without proper treatment. Chronic
leukemia is most common in adults. It progresses slowly.
Chronic leukemia is less severe than acute.
Leukemia has many symptoms. These symptoms include:
bruising easily, constant fever, swollen lymph glands,
enlarged abdomen (from enlarged liver or spleen), no
appetite, weight loss, body pain, excessive bleeding, and
infections.
The cure rate of leukemia is up to 70%. This is due to
years of study, and treatment. The first leukemia treatment
was introduced in the 1940’s. Chemotherapy is one of the
main treatments used today to fight leukemia. Chemotherapy
is given in one of four ways: intravenously,
intramuscularly, orally, or a spinal tap. Chemotherapy uses
a combination of about thirty drugs. These drugs kill
abnormal cells, or make them so they cant reproduce. Bone
marrow transplants are another form of treatment. The bone
marrow is taken from a healthy person, and then it is
injected into the patient’s bloodstream. If no donors are
available the patient can use his own bone marrow after the
leukemic cells are removed. Antibiotics are given to get
rid of the symptoms of the disease. By the year 2000 it is
expected that 1 in 1000 adults will be a survivor of
childhood leukemia.
Bibliography:
www.pt-able.com
ww2.med.jhu.edu/canceretr/hematol/hemsdis.htm
www.leukemia.org