How Leukemia Affects My Life

Leukemia is a cancer of blood cells, specifically white blood cells that are responsible for fighting infection. However, the abnormal cells in leukemia do not function in the same way as normal white blood cells. Leukemia cells continue to grow and divide, eventually crowding out normal blood cells. The end result is that it becomes difficult for the body to fight infections, control bleeding and transport oxygen (Medicine Net, 2015). It is estimated that each year, approximately 30,800 individuals will be diagnosed with leukemia in the United

I never really thought I would be involved with cancer in the way I am now, as in being a student in

Leukemia is “a malignant progressive disease in which the bone marrow and other blood-forming organs produce increased numbers of immature or abnormal leukocytes. These suppress the production of normal blood cells, leading to anemia and other symptoms.”An estimated combined total of 162,020 people in the U.S. are expected to be diagnosed with leukemia, 60,192 people die, 14% live in remission and my father is just another statistic. When I was nine years old, my father was diagnosed with Leukemia, an illness that at the time I did not understand. This left my mother raising two kids and working two jobs to make ends meet. Throughout this time of never ending hospital visits, I experienced the kindness and care provided to us by my father’s doctors - something that until this day I will never forget.

Types of leukemia- acute or chronic: Acute leukemia gets worse very fast and may make you feel sick right away. Chronic leukemia gets worse slowly and may not cause symptoms for years. And Lymphocytic or myelogenous: lymphocytic affects the white blood cells called lymphocytes and myelogenous affects the white blood cells called myelocytes.

Cancer has one of the biggest effects on the patients mental health but also the patients loved ones and friends. It is one of the hardest things to get a grip on when the doctor tells someone that they have cancer and a fifty-fifty chance of making it. "The disease can bring many changes-in what people do and how they look, in how they feel and what they value" (Dakota 4). It makes people look at the world and their lives in a different way, valuing now what they took for granted and seeing the bigger picture in every scenario. It is something that no one can actually brace, even after the doctor tells them. Through it all though, the person must remain strong and optimistic because the cancer can affect the person's moods and in return affect the outcome of the person and the chances of their making it

According to the American Cancer Society (2013) stated, “Leukemia is a cancer that starts in early blood-forming cells” (American Cancer Society, 2013). “Most often, leukemia is a cancer of the white blood cells, but some leukemias start in other blood cell types” (American Cancer Society, 2013). “Any of the cells from the bone marrow can turn into a leukemia cell” (American Cancer Society, 2013). According to the American Cancer Society (2013) stated, “Once this change takes place, the leukemia cells don’t go through the normal process of maturing” (American Cancer Society, 2013). There are changes that leukemia cells can quickly reproduce themselves and not die when they are suppose too (American Cancer Society, 2013). “They survive and build up in the bone marrow, crowding out normal cells” (American Cancer Society, 2013). “In most cases, the leukemia cells spill into the bloodstream fairly quickly” (American Cancer Society, 2013). “Almost all childhood leukemia is acute leukemias” (American Cancer Society, 2013).

Leukemia is cancerous disease that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow and causes large numbers of blood cells to be produced and enter the blood-stream (National Cancer Institute, 2008, para. 1). It is one of many complicated cancer diseases that affect all ages and have very negative outcomes if not treated properly, and on time. Within the disease are several different types that affect according to how quickly the disease develops and attacks the body. It could be classified as chronic leukemia, which has a slow progress of getting worse or acute leukemia which usually gets worse quickly. The types of leukemia also can be grouped based on the white blood cell that is affected (National Cancer Institute , 2008, p. 1).

As a friend of a cancer survivor, I have learned a lot about persistence. She was knocked down by Leukemia, which can cause you to obtain secondary diseases quickly since it reduces your blood cells that defend your body. Different people have different effects on their body when they have Leukemia.

The Diagnosis for many especially those who are the diagnosed can be the scariest thing. Seeing this first hand with my grandmother who did not want to tell anyone of what had happened it was tough. I was a little less then fifteen when I went to live with my grandmother for a short time. She quickly showed me things like cooking and gardening and the value of hard work so when I overheard her talking to my grandfather about having to get chemo the next day I was beside myself. She finally told me the next day about her diagnosis. Though we may care for those diagnosed seldom do we ever truly know what they are going through? I mean how often do you have things you

Thesis/argument statement OR main idea statement: Cancer affects children and their families in many ways.

After their successful work with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, St. Jude Children’s Hospital decided to expand their efforts outwards and focus on another type of leukemia that attacks the lives of children every year. Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a cancer that begins in bone marrow and quickly multiplies and spreads to white blood cells, makes up 20% of all childhood leukemia (Pui 51). The first AML study at St. Jude began in 1986. Before the start of this project, only one child out of every 58 children suffering from this illness survived for a time greater than five years; however, by the end of the first study completed in 1973, the rate of remission had increased to 66%. Although St. Jude was ecstatic that they had brought the rate of remission

Leukemia is something that we hear about a lot. I believe that people do not understand exactly what leukemia is and how dangerous it can be, I chose this topic to try to help them understand. In this paper I will explain what leukemia is and what treatments you can choose from to treat the cancer.

Jack woke up one morning not feeling well. He felt very weak and could not get out of bed. His mother decided to take him to the doctors. The doctors took many tests to figure out what was making him feel that way. After about an hour or two the doctors got the results back from a blood test. Results that would change Jack’s childhood for the worse. Jack has been diagnosed with Leukemia, a blood cancer. Of course, Jack was not sure what that meant but, his parents became worried beyond belief with the long road ahead of them. Scientists and researchers were all involved in the discovery of Leukemia cancer, which increased knowledge of this cancer, decreased deaths and discovered treatments, and started charity groups to fund research.

It is estimated that 310,046 people are living with Leukemia or are in remission from Leukemia in the United States, according to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Leukemia is a cancer that affects the body’s ability to form blood and its components. Leukemia affects the red bone marrow and the lymphatic system. Red bone marrow is very important in homeopoesis. Homeopoesis is the process of new blood cell formation and takes place at the sites of red bone marrow.

What would be your first reaction if your physician told you that you have a case of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia at eighteen years old and that you needed to start treatment right away? How would I pay for surgeries or chemotherapy? And who would I call first to talk to about my current condition? These are all questions my friend asked himself when he went through what is called “the worst doctors visit of his life.” Being a part of someone’s experience changes you as a person because you learn to appreciate life more than you ever have before and you want to take chances you never thought you would. I met my best friend Jack my friendship year in high school. We became best friends after we went to homecoming together our first year of high school. Our senior year, Jack was playing rugby during the play off week to go to state. On April 28, 2016 Jack was tackled by the opposing team and knocked unconscious on the field. His mom,Laura, grabbed my arm in the stands and started running out of the stadium and onto the field where the sports medicine team and doctors were checking Jacks vitals. I have never heard the stadium on both sides so quiet waiting to hear if he was okay. The ambulance arrived ten minutes after the hit because he was not waking up they transported him to St. Luke’s emergency room and told his mom and I to stay in the waiting room until they completed a