Leukemia Paper

My maternal grandpa was diagnosed with blood cancer, lymphoma to be exact when I was just 6 years old. He battled with it on and off for what seemed to be a very long 8 years until he lost the fight in 2003. It's hard to believe that was 11 years ago. It was difficult for my family and I to see him in so much pain whenever he would relapse. We would all notice a huge difference in his appearance and attitude as the cancer progressed. This was the only major long lasting health condition that has been in my family. There are 3 basic types of blood cancer which include leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

13. Therapeutic management of leukemia consist of intravenous therapy and intrathecal by administering the chemotherapeutic agents directly into the spinal cord

Most leukemia malignancies begin with abnormalities in the white blood cells production and function, however, it is a very diverse group of diseases that can vary significantly from case to case. Each cancer must be individually characterized by the type of leukocyte population it affects (granulocyte/myeloid cells or lymphocytic cells) as well as how quickly the cancer cells proliferate (acute or chronic) (Gylys and Wedding). Acute and chronic malignancies differ in proliferation rates and in the maturity of blood cells as acute has a sudden onset with mostly embryonic cells and chronic has a slower proliferation rate and enough mature cells to still carry out necessary functions (Gylys and Wedding). Leukemia is observed when blood cells acquire mutation in their DNA. These mutations cause the cells to not only grow and divide more rapidly than normal cells but to live longer as well (“Leukemia”). Eventually, the abnormal, unchecked cells overcrowd and outcompete the healthy, regulated cells and hijack the bone marrow (Tabe and Konopleya). Healthy hematopoiesis stem cells are overtaken and the cancer cells dominate control over the bone marrow niches and blood cell pathways (Tabe and Konopleya). Malignant blood cells cannot be regulated as well and are no longer function properly, which is seen in the decreased infection fighting abilities

Leukemia is a form of cancer that starts in the stem cells of the bone marrow that make blood cells. A bone marrow is the material that fills the center of most bones which is where blood cells are made. Leukemia is basically a blood cancer where the cells do not form properly. Leukemia is found in blood cells and since blood cells do not have chromosomes or DNA then they cannot divide or reproduce like somatic cells do. Blood cells form in the bone marrow and when too many blood cells form in the human body then Leukemia cancer is developed. There are three different types of blood cells that increase out of control and are produced in the bone marrow which are White blood cells [leukocytes], Red blood cells [erythrocytes] and Platelets.

In the beginning leukemia is a cell in the bone marrow. The cell undergoes changes and becomes what we know as leukemia. Once these changes are made the cells may grow and survive better than normal cells. Once a person has been diagnosed and undergoes treatment they could live many more years.

ALL results from an acquired or a genetic injury to the DNA of stem cells in the bone marrow, causing them to behave abnormally (The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 2017). Acute leukemias are marked by a high proportion of very infantile and counterproductive cells produced in the bone marrow and spread throughout the body and into peripheral circulation (VanMeter, Hubert, 2015). The number of lymphoblasts increase and then infiltrate the spleen, liver, brain, lymph nodes, and other organs (VanMeter, Hubert, 2015). Malignant B-lymphocytes grow and survive better than normal cells, do not function normally, and block the production of normal cells (The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 2017). Overgrowth of leukemic white blood cells by the bone marrow makes it difficult for other blood cells, like red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets to develop and their numbers are usually lower than normal, as well as create a need for normally functioning leukocytes (McCoy,

D.P., et al, 2013). There are various signs and symptoms of leukemia including: fever and

Signs and symptoms differ for the various different kinds of leukemia. But tend to have anemia, leukopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, which refer to the lacking of red and white bloodcells, neutrophils and platlets. These imbalances in blood composition lead to a plethora of problems. Moreso leukemia tends to include general symptoms of: weakness, fatigue, fever, bone pain, weight loss, night sweats ALL: swelling in abdomen, enlarged lymph nodes, bone or joint pain, enlarged thymus, spread to central nervous system, chest, or rarely skin, eyes, testicles, kidneys, and other organs AML: bleeding and clotting problems, leukostatis (cancer cells which are larger clog blood vessels), spread to skin, gums, and central nervous system CLL: higher risk of infections, autoimmunity resulting in autoimmune hemolytic anemia or rarely keukopenia and thrombocytopenia Childhood: swelling of face and arms, lack

Next, it depends on severity: Stage A- Average of 10 years life span. Stage B- 5-8 years. Stage C- 1-3 years. Finally CLL may go into remission, but it often comes back (Cancer Research UK).

Chronic leukemia is slow moving. Chronic leukemia has three types: Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), and Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML). Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia is the most common in adults. CLL is when there is an over abundant amount of white blood cells in the bone marrow, which causes them to become abnormal and cause the body to not be able to fight off infections. Chronic Myeloid Leukemia is the same as CLL. It produces too many white blood cells. The only difference between the two is that CML has an abnormal chromosome as well. The last chronic type of leukemia is Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia when someone does not make enough blood. Some of their undeveloped cells do not ever become developed.

Leukemia is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. It forms when there is a mutation in the stem cells that form into various blood cells. This mutation causes the cells to replicate uncontrollably, and are put into the bloodstream while still immature. Since the blood is full of these immature cells,

Everyone has heard of cancer. You should also know that you don’t want it. Do you know why you don’t want it? Exactly, cancer is bad. Do you know about the specific types though? You might know a little about a few types, but you can learn a lot more. A common type of cancer is Leukemia. Leukemia is a cancer in the blood. You might have heard about it or you think you know all about it, but common facts aren’t all to it. Leukemia gets its name from what kind of cancer it is. It comes from Greek leukos meaning “white” and aima meaning “blood” (Medical News Today). Leukemia was first recognized in 1845 by Rudolf Virchow (Siegel & Newton, 15). By conducting an autopsy, he discovered lots of white blood cells in the blood stream.

“You have to realize that every well person is a miracle, it takes billions of cells to make up a person, and it will only take one cell to be bad to destroy the whole person”, this quote is from Barbara Bush from one of her past interviews about a daughter she lost with leukemia (Cunningham, 1988). This quote reminded me five years ago, when my niece was diagnosed with leukemia. She does not only have one bad cell inside her body but she has extra 330,000 counts of white blood cells that are not normal. It was summer of year 2008 when my niece who is freshmen in high school was diagnosed with leukemia or cancer of the blood. Leukemia is a cancer that starts in the tissue that forms blood and

Leukemia affects your entire body. It starts somewhere in the blood line and spreads through the body. New blood cells are produced in the bone marrow which are mostly red, but when you have leukemia, your body makes more white cells than it needs and can’t fight the infection.

“Each year in the United States alone, nearly 32,000 adults and more than 2,000 children develop leukemia, a cancer of the blood cells”. Acute and chronic leukemia are the two kinds of the disease. Acute leukemia developments much more rapidly, chronic leukemia advances gradually, and the immune system is damaged slower. (Panno 36). Leukemia is one of many systemic diseases. Each disease affects the body differently. Leukemia affects the immune system, which affects the body by "feeling extremely sick, complaining of recurrent infections, bleeding, bruising, bone tenderness, fever, chills, sweats, weakness, fatigue, headaches, or swelling in the neck, or armpits”. Otherwise, an individual might have not any indications entirely and the disease might be discovered accidental from a checkup blood examination. When finding acute leukemia typically comes to instant hospitalization. Since leukemia victims require numerous transfusions of blood, patients have to be treated at medical establishments. Acute leukemia is treated by chemotherapy, which contains two stages: an initiation stage, where an