Leukemia

BioMoz — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:17:56 +0000

Leukemia is a type of cancer. It is the cancer of a blood or bone marrow where leuk means white and emia means blood. It is characterized by abnormal growth of leukocytes that is white blood cells (WBC). Normally blood cells form in the bone marrow. Bone marrow is the soft material in the center of most bones. Most blood cells get mature in the bone marrow and move into blood vessel. The blood cell differentiation takes place in bone marrow. In people with leukemia the bone marrow produces abnormal white blood cell. In the early stage WBC’s work normally but then they may crowd out normal RBC, WBC and platelets. This creates a problem for blood to do its work.
Types of Leukemia:
Acute Leukemia: There is rapid increase of immature blood cells. They cannot carry out their work. The acute leukemia worsens rapidly so require immediate treatment to cease the rapid progression and accumulation of the malignant cells. If the accumulation takes place then it may spill into the bloodstream and spread to other organs of the body. Children’s are more prone to this acute leukemia.
Chronic Leukemia: They may not have any symptoms and in the early stage the abnormal cells can still do their work. Gradually the numbers of abnormal white blood cells increase than the normal cells in the blood. Acute Leukemia can be treated immediately while chronic leukemia has to be monitored for sometime before treatment to ensure maximum effectiveness of therapy.
Risk factors:
The exact cause of Leukemia is still unknown. But the known risk factor includes natural and artificial ionizing radiation, some chemicals like benzene, chemotherapy, tobacco, virus such as Human T- lymphotrophic virus (HTLV-I). People who are exposed to very high levels of radiation (such as those caused by atomic bomb explosion) are much likely than others to develop leukemia. Exposure to high levels of benzene and formaldehyde in the workplace can cause leukemia. Cancer patients are treated with chemotherapy, this drugs has alkylating agents which then further may develop leukemia. Virus HTLV-I may cause chronic leukemia to an individual.
Signs and symptoms:
• Headache, backache
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Weight loss
• Bleeding gums, blood in the stool or urine
• Little red dots may develop on the thighs or any other part of your body.
Treatment: Depending upon the condition, type and extent of the disease, patients may have hormone therapy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or bone marrow transplantation. Immediate treatment is required in case of acute of leukemia while in chronic leukemia the doctor may suggest watchful waiting. However, chronic leukemia can seldom be cured.

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Leukemia