In medical terms leukemia means cancerous condition of the blood cells in the body. There are three types of cells present in the blood. A) White Blood cells b) Red blood cells c) Platelets. Each cell has its own distinct function. The main function of the white blood cell is to produce immune in the body. It fights against the harmful organism in the body that causes various diseases. Red blood cells implant oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and also carry the impure carbon dioxide from the cells to the lungs. The role of the platelets is to control bleeding. All the blood cells originate from the bone marrow.
If the bone marrow produces abnormal or excessive cells, then the person has developed leukemia. Recently studies were conducted by the National Institute of Cancer wherein it was found that almost 27,000 adults and 20,000 children were prone to develop leukemia every year.
If leukemia progresses very slowly, it is called as chronic anemia. And if it progresses rapidly then it is known as chronic anemia, the production of the cells is not excessive but these are not normal and therefore do not function normally. But the conditions for ?acute anemia? are reverse. The cells function normally but are produced in excess.
Generally, there are five categories of leukemia.
1. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia commonly occurs among children and even adults above the age of 65.
2. Acute Myeloid Leukemia also occurs commonly among children and old people.
3. Adults, whose age are 55 and above, usually develop Lymphatic Leukemia; the middle-aged individuals are seldom affected by the disease. It does not occur among children.
4. Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia is another disease condition that occurs among children usually.
5. Hairy cell Leukemia is a very rare condition. The white blood cells are covered with tiny hair follicle and the hair can be viewed under microscope.
The etiology of the disease is yet not known, but there are some factors that enhance the chance of development:
It has been discovered by medical experts that women is easily prone to the disease than men. Individuals with fairer skin develop easily compared to the people with dark skin. During the World War II several people became exposed to the radiation produced by the bomb explosions. Hence many people during this period became the victims of cancer. Even today, the job workers or laborers in nuclear power plants also seem to develop often. It is often risky for the people who are born with Down syndrome disease, or are exposed to chemicals frequently including the electricians.
The common symptoms of acute leukemia are headaches, vomiting, seizures, muscle dystrophy and confusion. The chronic leukemia quickly affects the central nervous system, digestive tract, kidneys and testicles.
Chronic leukemia literally means excessive white blood cells in the blood basically; the function of the white blood cells is to produce immune system into the body. The other harmful organism such as bacteria and viruses that enter into the body are killed by the white blood cells because these cells have immune system in them and therefore they fight against the harmful organisms present into the body. But the bone marrow produces more abnormal cells and only few normal cells. As the cells do not function normally the patient begins to experience various symptoms in this way.
Leukemia occurs in different forms. When chronic leukemia occurs to a patient it progresses very slowly. The white blood cells begin to mature very slowly and therefore do not perform normally. The treatment is not required immediately and if the patient wants to begin treatment, it usually begins with chemotherapy. Even today, the cause for leukemia is not yet discovered.
The patient yet begins to experience some symptoms at the early stage like feeling tired faster due to lack of adequate blood into the body, dizzy feeling, recurring infections, loss of weight, energy, the lymph glands are enlarged. The disease that commonly occurs among the people is chronic lymphocytic leukemia as 3000 to 4000 patients are diagnosed with the disease every year. The number of lymphocytes increases and as most of the cells are in abnormal condition, they do not have the power to invade the harmful organism present. Even if the patient develops infection it cannot be healed because immune is not produced in their body.
Often, this disease is diagnosed accidentally only when blood tests are performed for some other purposes. For eg: if a doctor conducts blood test to actually check the hemoglobin level, unexpectedly he may be diagnosed with the problem of leukemia. The doctor then conducts bone marrow test to become sure. When scans & X-rays are conducted, the form of treatment that is well-suitable can be determined. The tables used as a Chemotherapy are Chlorambucil, Prednisone, fludarabine etc.
Earlier bone marrow transplant was considered as the best form of treatment for diseases like cancer. But recently, it has been proved that transplantation of special cells from the blood is the best treatment. This treatment is used to treat other forms of blood cancer like lymphoma, leukemia. Etc.
Ultimately, the process for treating leukemia is not easier. Usually leukemia is not diagnosed earlier but is diagnosed when the patient already enters into the final stage when death is likely to be occurred quickly. Therefore treating the patient during his eleventh hour becomes extremely difficult.
Even today the chances for survival are very rare.
If the bone marrow produces abnormal or excessive cells, then the person has developed leukemia. Recently studies were conducted by the National Institute of Cancer wherein it was found that almost 27,000 adults and 20,000 children were prone to develop leukemia every year.
If leukemia progresses very slowly, it is called as chronic anemia. And if it progresses rapidly then it is known as chronic anemia, the production of the cells is not excessive but these are not normal and therefore do not function normally. But the conditions for ?acute anemia? are reverse. The cells function normally but are produced in excess.
Generally, there are five categories of leukemia.
1. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia commonly occurs among children and even adults above the age of 65.
2. Acute Myeloid Leukemia also occurs commonly among children and old people.
3. Adults, whose age are 55 and above, usually develop Lymphatic Leukemia; the middle-aged individuals are seldom affected by the disease. It does not occur among children.
4. Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia is another disease condition that occurs among children usually.
5. Hairy cell Leukemia is a very rare condition. The white blood cells are covered with tiny hair follicle and the hair can be viewed under microscope.
The etiology of the disease is yet not known, but there are some factors that enhance the chance of development:
It has been discovered by medical experts that women is easily prone to the disease than men. Individuals with fairer skin develop easily compared to the people with dark skin. During the World War II several people became exposed to the radiation produced by the bomb explosions. Hence many people during this period became the victims of cancer. Even today, the job workers or laborers in nuclear power plants also seem to develop often. It is often risky for the people who are born with Down syndrome disease, or are exposed to chemicals frequently including the electricians.
The common symptoms of acute leukemia are headaches, vomiting, seizures, muscle dystrophy and confusion. The chronic leukemia quickly affects the central nervous system, digestive tract, kidneys and testicles.
Chronic leukemia literally means excessive white blood cells in the blood basically; the function of the white blood cells is to produce immune system into the body. The other harmful organism such as bacteria and viruses that enter into the body are killed by the white blood cells because these cells have immune system in them and therefore they fight against the harmful organisms present into the body. But the bone marrow produces more abnormal cells and only few normal cells. As the cells do not function normally the patient begins to experience various symptoms in this way.
Leukemia occurs in different forms. When chronic leukemia occurs to a patient it progresses very slowly. The white blood cells begin to mature very slowly and therefore do not perform normally. The treatment is not required immediately and if the patient wants to begin treatment, it usually begins with chemotherapy. Even today, the cause for leukemia is not yet discovered.
The patient yet begins to experience some symptoms at the early stage like feeling tired faster due to lack of adequate blood into the body, dizzy feeling, recurring infections, loss of weight, energy, the lymph glands are enlarged. The disease that commonly occurs among the people is chronic lymphocytic leukemia as 3000 to 4000 patients are diagnosed with the disease every year. The number of lymphocytes increases and as most of the cells are in abnormal condition, they do not have the power to invade the harmful organism present. Even if the patient develops infection it cannot be healed because immune is not produced in their body.
Often, this disease is diagnosed accidentally only when blood tests are performed for some other purposes. For eg: if a doctor conducts blood test to actually check the hemoglobin level, unexpectedly he may be diagnosed with the problem of leukemia. The doctor then conducts bone marrow test to become sure. When scans & X-rays are conducted, the form of treatment that is well-suitable can be determined. The tables used as a Chemotherapy are Chlorambucil, Prednisone, fludarabine etc.
Earlier bone marrow transplant was considered as the best form of treatment for diseases like cancer. But recently, it has been proved that transplantation of special cells from the blood is the best treatment. This treatment is used to treat other forms of blood cancer like lymphoma, leukemia. Etc.
Ultimately, the process for treating leukemia is not easier. Usually leukemia is not diagnosed earlier but is diagnosed when the patient already enters into the final stage when death is likely to be occurred quickly. Therefore treating the patient during his eleventh hour becomes extremely difficult.
Even today the chances for survival are very rare.
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