The Various Causes of Leukemia

Today I will be talking about three aspects of Leukemia; First what it is and one of the possible causes, Secondly what are the recognizable symptoms and what tests doctors use to identify leukemia in a young child. And what

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).

So Artificial ionizing radiation is one of the reasons and it's a type of energy released by atoms that travels in the form of electromagnetic waves or particles. Viruses which are infective agents. Benzene which is a colorless volatile liquid hydrocarbon present in coal tar and petroleum. Hair dyes like when you change the color of your hair. genetic predisposition. some studies researching family history and looking at twins have indicated that some people have a higher risk of developing leukemia because of a single gene or multiple genes. Down syndrome, experts say that people with down syndrome have a higher possibility of getting leukemia. “The last one is Electromagnetic energy, experts can't really prove that this is a cause, but they do say it is a slight

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.

Leukemia - this is the cancer that is established in blood-forming tissue such as bone marrow. This causes numerous abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood.

Childhood Leukemia is the most common type of cancer in children and teens, which is a cancer of the white blood cells. Immature white blood cells from the bone marrow to be specific. They quickly travel through the bloodstream and over power the healthy cells. This disease raises the body chances of infections and other problems as well due to the immaturity of white blood cells. Common signs and symptoms includes fever, easy bruising, weakness, weight loss, ad bone and join pain the immature white blood cells can invade organs in the body causing the Lymph nodes to become enlarged.

Acute myeloid leukemia is caused by damage to the DNA of developing cells in your bone marrow. This causes blood cell production to go awry. Bone marrow then produces immature cells that develop into leukemic white blood cells (WBC) called myeloblasts. These cells cannot function properly and ends up taking over the remaining healthy cells. Factors such as: increasing age, your gender, previous cancer treatments, exposure to radiation,

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia is a scary disease. The term “acute” means the disease can quickly spread and progress quickly and can prove fatal in months if left untreated. “Lymphocytic” simply means that it develops from immature forms of lymphocytes. Also known as Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, or ALL for short, it is a type of cancer that starts from the early form of white blood cells called lymphocytes in the bone marrow. ALL is the most common form of cancer in children, though adults can get it as well. For children, treatment results in a good chance of a cure. Adults have a significantly smaller chance of a cure with ALL. ALL generally invades the blood very quickly and has the potential to spread to other body parts such as the spleen,

When blood cells or blood-forming tissues are infected or destroyed, it can have harmful effects throughout the body. Although the damage of blood-forming tissues (and white blood cells) is commonly referred to as the simple umbrella term “leukemia,” there are several different types of this particular cancer. Doctors classify each

Every three minutes, someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer, and every ten minutes someone dies of the disease. (Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 2014). Blood cancers cause the function, normal development, and production, of blood cells to be interrupted, as they grow uncontrollably. (American Society of Hematology, n.d.). The disease starts in the bone marrow, where cancerous white blood cells prevent the body from fighting off infections and stopping serious bleeding. (American Society of Hematology, n.d.). There are three main types of blood cancers; they include leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. (Anthony Nolan, n.d.). Acute myelogenous leukemia is one of the most common forms of leukemia in adults. (American Cancer Society, 2014).

Chemotherapy is given in cycles a treatment period followed by a recovery period, then another treatment period and so on. The drug enters the blood stream and destroys leukemia cells throughout the body. However, they cannot reach the brain and spinal cord, because of a protective network of blood vessels that keep foreign substances from entering the central nervous system. In certain cases doctors need to inject the drug directly into the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. (Health a to z, 20)

I am Gino Dettorre, and I will be a senior at Bishop Watterson High School this coming school year. Currently, I am interested in pursuing a major in biology with a minor in Spanish at either Washington University in Saint Louis, University of Pennsylvania, or Vanderbilt University. While participating in the Mechanisms of Human Health and Disease program at Children’s Hospital, I have gained a better understanding of the molecular bases of various diseases, and I am interested in applying this knowledge in a laboratory setting. I have chosen to research acute myeloid leukemia because I have known relatives and friends affected by blood cancers, and I am interested in better understanding the mechanisms of this disease.

There are two main and four specific types of leukemia. The two main types are acute leukemia, which is fast growing, and chronic leukemia, which is slow growing. The four specific types of leukemia are chronic lymphocytic (CLL), acute lymphocytic (ALL), chronic myelogenous (CML), and acute myelogenous (AML) that were discovered in 1913. About three quarters of children diagnosed with leukemia have acute lymphocytic which peaks as early as two to four years old. This cancer kills more children that are two or fifteen than anything else. To determine whether the cancer will be chronic or acute is to look at the cell lineage. The blood cell that becomes cancerous explains what type of leukemia it is. Depending on if the white cells, the red blood cells, or the platelets can determine exactly which leukemia it is. “Adults can get either type; children with leukemia most often have an acute type” (Leukemia: MedlinePlus). For a child to get a chronic leukemia is very rare. Now it is known that the cancer starts in the bone marrow, which is where blood cells are formed. Leukemia causes the body to create too many abnormal cells and these abnormal white cells cannot fight infection and also lessen the amount of red cells and platelets. Some of the risk factors of this cancer are large doses of ionizing radiation, being exposed to benzene for a long period of time, rare viruses, genetic disorders, and

Cancer, a long and difficult journey assimilated with death. Cancer, in general, is when cells begin to grow out of control and can start anywhere in the body. There are many different forms and types of cancer; scary but true. All forms of cancer is terrifying, but the most terrifying for children is Leukemia. Leukemia is the most common form of cancer in children and teens. It zones in on blood-forming cells, mainly white blood cells, in the bone marrow. This form of cancer accounts for almost one out of three cancers (Leukemia in Children). Why, in my opinion, this is the most intimidating form of cancer is because it takes the lives of the young who had so much potential and barely began to live their own lives. It takes those who are