Informative Essay On Leukemia

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

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is a non-profit organization focused on finding a cure for blood cancer and providing their patients with the medical care available. For 65 years, the LLS has been an advocate for blood cancer patients, families, and survivors. In honor of September, Blood Cancer Awareness Month LLS has developed 30 “proof points”, one for each day of the month that displays the organizations success and impact towards finding a cure for blood cancer. With more than $1 billion invested in treatments and research, LLS hopes to reach their goal of $400,000 during Blood Cancer Awareness Month to continue their efforts in creating a world without blood cancer.

Leukemia broadly describes conditions that affect erythropoiesis in the bone marrow, lymphatic system, and spleen. As with all other cancers, leukemia begins from the mutation of DNA in certain cells. Classifications of leukemias are based on the age of onset and the leukocyte involved (Lewis et al. 2014, 665). The most common leukemia is chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), accounting for approximately 30% of cases in the United States (Copstead and Banasik 2013, 222). The normal function of the bone marrow, spleen, and liver becomes interrupted by the invasion of malignant lymphocytes (B cells); since the B cells are functionally inactive, a patient becomes more susceptible to infections. The sluggish progression of CLL unfortunately leads to late diagnoses and poor prognosis (Lewis et al. 2014, 665). Patients that become symptomatic in later stages will experience fatigue, weight loss, anorexia, and an increased susceptibility to infection, due to abnormal antibody production. Patient specific factors such as age, disease progression, and medication side effects will determine the course of treatment (Copstead and Banasik 2013, 223). The fragile state of patients with CLL requires continuous examination of drug therapy and interventions to prevent further complications.

Leukemia is a type of cancer that sadly causes around 25,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. The area that it affects is the blood and the bone marrow and like most or all of the types of cancer in the world if not taken control of early it will most likely kill you.

- Blood counts reveal the levels of red cells, white cells and platelets in the blood. If multiple myeloma is present in the bone marrow, some of these counts will be low.

CBC (Complete Blood Count): This blood test measures the amount of various types of blood cells in a sample of the blood. Blood cancers may be detected using this test if too many or too few of a type of blood cell or abnormal cells are found. A bone marrow biopsy may help confirm a diagnosis of a blood cancer ("Leukemia Home Page - National Cancer Institute").

Leukemia Leukemia is a group of blood diseases characterized by cancer of the blood forming tissues. It was discovered in Europe during the XIX century when a group of doctors directed by John Hughes Bennett tested their patients and discovered their elevated number of white blood cells. It was then called “white blood” and later was named leukemia from the words greek words “leukos” (white) and “hemia” (blood). Leukemia is a disfunction of the bone marrow stem that over

3. The French American British have further conducted studies on (ALL) acute lymphoblastic leukemia and found that (FAB) system which consists of subtypes are conducting morphology structure reactivity of leukemic cells

Leukemia is a cancer that affects the bone marrow. The bon marrow is the soft spongy center of the bone that produces blood cells. Leukemia is found in white blood cells or leukocytes. The white blood cells help to fight ff infections and other diseases. Normally, cells produce in an orderly way, but people that have leukemia the cell production gets out of control. The marrow produces too many immature white blood cells called blasts. They are differently shaped and can’t carry out their usual duties.

Multiple myeloma is staged based on the Durie- Salmon staging system which contain four contributing factors: severity of bone damage, the amount of calcium and hemoglobin in the blood, and the amount of abnormal monoclonal immunoglobulin in the blood or urine (“An Overview” 2012). In the first stage of multiple myeloma it is indicated that the tumor is small, there is a small number of myeloma cells present during this stage. In addition to the tumor, there are other things that affect the body. The hemoglobin levels tend to be slightly less than normal but still a little over 10 g/dL. However, while reviewing x-rays little or no bone damage is shown and the amount of calcium in the blood remains less than 12 mg/dl [average]. Also the amount of abnormal monoclonal immunoglobulin is present in small amounts in either the blood or urine. While in stage two the symptoms fluctuate between stage one and three but there are a moderate number of plasma cells. As the cancer progresses large amounts of plasma cells are present which is classified as stage three. In addition to the large amounts of plasma cells, one of the following should also be present for the cancer to be classified as a stage three, low hemoglobin levels below 8.5g/dL, a blood calcium level of above 12 mg/dL, large amounts of monoclonal immunoglobulin in the blood or urine and three or more areas of bone destroyed by the cancerous cells (How is multiple myeloma staged?

Stage I: Patients with myeloma “stage 1” don't show any symptoms because there are not that many cancer cells in the body. If myeloma has interacted with the kidney function, the effect may be considerable worse than of the stage where it is at. Characteristics of stage 1 include the following:

In leukaemia, the bone marrow produces abnormal white blood cells. These irregular cells attack the healthy white blood cells, affecting the function of the white blood cells. This disease can have a fatal effect, as well as being a type of cancer, the white blood cells’ primary function- to fight infections- is disrupted. This means that a person affected by leukaemia is more prone to dying from preventable or curable diseases, such as pneumonia, because their immune system has been weakened. There are various treatments available for leukaemia, but the type of treatment actually delivered to a patient depends on their individual circumstances. In most cases of acute leukaemia, treatment is started immediately after the disease is

The first stage is called induction therapy. With induction therapy, the goal is to kill as many leukemic cells as possible in the blood and bone marrow. Restoring normal blood cell production is also a goal with induction therapy. Consolidation therapy is the second phase. Also called post-remission therapy, the goal is to destroy any remaining leukemia in the body. The third phase is maintenance therapy. The goal of maintenance therapy is to prevent leukemia cells from re-growing. Often, this phase is given in low doses over a period of time, most likely over a few years. Sometimes prevention therapy is given during the phases of treatment. Prevention therapy is given to kill any leukemia in the central nervous system. During prevention, chemotherapy is injected directly into the fluids surrounding the spinal cord. As a whole, the phases of treatment are given over a span of 2-3 years, depending on each

Leukemia is a cancer that attacks a persons’ blood. This is where the patients’ white blood cells grow abnormally and mutate, blocking the growth of normal blood cells. Leukemia can cause bruising that seems to come from nowhere and a person cannot remember where they got them from. White blood cells are very important to immunity so having this cancer can highly decrease someone’s immunity to anything from the common cold to a viral infection. If Leukemia is not caught in time, like all cancers, it can be deadly.

The body is affected or disrupted by its normal balance of cells in the blood and it also effects the cells ability to do their jobs. Leukemia reduces the levels of white blood cells which defend the body from any infections which can lead to higher chances of secondary