DESCRIPTION
Leukemia attacks the white blood cells that help fight infections; and the bone marrow, that produces red blood cells and blood platelets. Over 36,000 people in the US are diagnosed with leukemia each year. Exposure to radiation and the chemical benzene increases the risk for developing leukemia dramatically. Radiotherapy, used to treat other forms of cancer, can actually increase the chances of leukemia. Other theories abound about other pollutants related to leukemia, such as magnetic radiation from power lines, but research is inconclusive. People with family member who have leukemia are more likely to develop the disease. As with most forms of cancer, the likelihood of developing leukemia goes up with age.
There are four types of leukemia:
- Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) Most commonly occurs in children. Initial symptoms are weakness, fatigue, anemia, fever and infections, bone and joint pain. New treatments such as bone marrow transplantation and stem cells have increased the chances for survival from near zero to up to 75%.
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) CLL affects a particular white blood cell, the B cell, which comes from bone marrow and fights infection. These cells proliferate at an abnormal rae, crowding out normal red blood cells. Generally diagnosed in older individuals from an abnormal blood count. CLL progresses slowly and early clinical intervention does not improve survivability, but does diminish quality of life. Care and treatment involves controlling the disease, easing symptoms allowing the patient to live with the disease.
- Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) Cancer of the meloid liine of cells. Rare, occurs in older people, cause is unclear. Treated with chemotherapy and more successfully with hematopoietic stem cell transplants.
- Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) Also known as chronic granulocytic leukemia, characterized by a genetic abnormaility in a chromosome.
Symptoms of leukemia include anemia, bruising, infections, and abnormal bleeding. Symptoms may not be apparent in all leukemia victims, routine check ups frequently uncover abnormalities which leads to diagnosis.
Leukemia may be treated with chemotherapy combined with bone marrow transplantation or stem cell transplantation. Some of these treatments are effective for younger patients, but far less so for adults. Depending on the type of leukemia survival for more than 5 years ranges from 10 to 50 percent.
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