A little information about LEUKEMIA

The word Leukemia comes from the Greek leukos which means "white" and aima which means "blood". It is cancer of the blood or bone marrow (which produces blood cells). A person who has leukemia suffers from an abnormal production of blood cells, generally leukocytes (white blood cells). 

Types of Leukemia

Chronic and Acute 

Experts divide leukemia into four large groups, each of which can be Acute, which is a rapidly progressing disease that results in the accumulation of immature, useless cells in the marrow and blood, or Chronic, which progresses more slowly and allows more mature, useful cells to be made. In other words, acute leukemia crowds out the good cells more quickly than chronic leukemia.

Lymphocytic and Myelogenous  

Leukemia’s are also subdivided into the type of affected blood cell. If the cancerous transformation occurs in the type of marrow that makes lymphocytes, the disease is called lymphocytic leukemia. A lymphocyte is a kind of white blood cell inside your vertebrae immune system. If the cancerous change occurs in the type of marrow cells that go on to produce red blood cells, other types of white cells, and platelets, the disease is called myelogenous leukemia.

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL),

 also known as Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia - This is the most common type of leukemia among young children, although adults can get it as well, especially those over the age of 65. Survival rates of at least five years range from 85% among children and 50% among adults. The following are all subtypes of this leukemia: precursor B acute lymphoblastic leukemia, precursor T acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Burkitt's leukemia, and acute biphenotypic leukemia.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) –

This is most common among adults over 55, although younger adults can get it as well. CLL hardly ever affects children. The majority of patients with CLL are men, over 60%. 75% of treated CLL patients survive for over five years. Experts say CLL is incurable. A more aggressive form of CLL is B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia.

Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) –

AML is more common among adults than children, and affects males significantly more often than females. Patients are treated with chemotherapy. 40% of treated patients survive for over 5 years. The following are subtypes of AMS - acute promyelocytic leukemia, acute myeloblastic leukemia, and acute megakaryoblastic leukemia.

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) –

 The vast majority of patients are adults. 90% of treated patients survive for over 5 years. Gleevec (imatinib) is commonly used to treat CML, as well as some other drugs. Chronic monocytic leukemia is a subtype of CML. 

Symptoms of Leukemia

• Blood clotting is poor –

 As immature white blood cells crowd out blood platelets, which are crucial for blood clotting, the patient may bruise or bleed easily and heal slowly - he may also develop petechiae (a small red to purple spot on the body, caused by a minor hemorrhage).

• Affected immune system –

The patient's white blood cells, which are crucial for fighting off infection, may be suppressed or not working properly. The patient may experience frequent infections, or his immune system may attack other good body cells.

• Anemia –

 As the shortage of good red blood cells grows the patient may suffer from anemia - this may lead to difficult or labored respiration (dyspnea) and pallor (skin has a pale color caused by illness).

• Other symptoms

 Patients may also experience nausea, fever, chills, night sweats, flu-like symptoms, and tiredness. If the liver or spleen becomes enlarged the patient may feel full and will eat less, resulting in weight loss. Headache is more common among patients whose cancerous cells have invaded the CNS (central nervous system).

• Precaution –

As all these symptoms could be due to other illnesses. A diagnosis of leukemia can only be confirmed after medical tests are carried out.

What causes leukemia? 

 The causes of leukemia, lymphoma, melanoma and related blood
disorders are not definitely known. However, a few factors do appear to
affect its development Experts say that different leukemia’s have different causes. The following are either known causes, or strongly suspected causes: 

 GeneticFactors
Down’s syndrome children have an increased risk of developing acute
leukemia, as do children with some other rare chromosomal
abnormalities. Genetic factors rarely play a role in the development of
chronic leukemia.

Radiation
Leukemia occurs at higher than average rates among people exposed
to intense radiation. These include survivors of the nuclear bomb
explosions in Japan; people exposed to radiation after the Chernobyl
nuclear plant disaster in the Ukraine; and people who received large
amounts of radiation necessary for the treatment of certain medical
conditions in the past.
No well designed study has ever shown a relationship between leukemia
and power lines.

Chemicals
Workers exposed to benzene have an increased risk of developing acute
leukemia. Some types of cytotoxic drugs used in organ transplant patients
and cancer treatments also increase the risk of developing leukemia.

Viruses
These risk factors account for only a part of the cause of leukemia in an
individual patient and account for a very small number of all leukemia
cases. In most cases the cause remains unknown. Having one or more
of these factors does not mean that you will definitely develop leukemia.
If you are concerned about any of these factors you should talk to your
doctor.

• Alkylating chemotherapy agents used in previous cancers

• Maternal fetal transmission (rare) 

• Hair dyes

Electromagnetic energy 

• - studies indicate there is not enough evidence to show that ELF magnetic (not electric) fields that exist currently might cause leukemia.