Leukemia
... You blood work is back and he believes that you have leukemia. ... What is leukemia and how did I get it? ... What is Leukemia? The diagnosis of leukemia is devastating to any person who hears those words and can turn a persons world upside down in the blink of an eye. ... “The word leukemia is derived from the Greek words of ‘leukos’ meaning ‘white’ and ‘haima’ meaning ‘blood’” (Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 2002, p. ... Leukemia can be differentiated into several types and there are specialized treatments used to combat each specific form of this disease. There are five distinct types of leukemia that will be identified here. These types include acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), acute myelocytic leukemia (AML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) and hairy cell leukemia. ... Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Acute lymphocytic leukemia or ALL, like all of the types of leukemia, is a malignant disorder of the blood. ... ” (The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 2002. ... Acute Myelogenous Leukemia Acute myelogenous leukemia, or AML, is found to develop after a genetic transformation takes place in a myeloid stem cell. As myelogenous cells can differentiate into several different types of blood cells, this type of leukemia can take on many dimensions. ... While this type of leukemia presents very similarly to that of ALL, the survival rate is much lower. ... Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Chronic lymphocytic leukemia, or CLL, is a much less aggressive form of leukemia and it also affects primarily older adults. ... Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Chronic myelogenous leukemia, or CML, is characterized by malignant granulocytes that carry a unique abnormal chromosome, named the “Philadelphia chromosome”. ... This type of leukemia does not respond well to chemotherapy or other treatments and the only curative treatment known at present is an allogenic bone marrow transplant. ... Hairy Cell Leukemia Hairy cell leukemia is a rare, chronic disease of unknown etiology and is characterized by the presence of peculiar lymphocytic cells with hair-like projections on the cell surface. ... It comprises less than 2% of all adult leukemia cases and unlike the others, it is highly curable with chemotherapy treatment. What Causes Leukemia? The exact cause of leukemia, with few exceptions, is unknown. ... Leukemia is not an inherited, but an acquired disease. ... Other substances suspected to have possible links to leukemia development include insecticide exposure, parental exposure to chemicals and solvents from occupational situations, chemical contamination of ground water, alcohol and cigarette smoke. ... Patients with other auto-immune disorders, including neurofibromatosis, Wiscott-Aldrich Syndrome and Fanconi’s anemia are at a slightly increased risk for leukemia development as well, although the reason for that is also unknown. Some risk has also been identified for twins of patient’s with leukemia. “The sibling of an identical twin who develops ALL or AML before 6 years of age has a 20% to 25% chance of developing leukemia. Fraternal (not identical) twins and older brothers and sisters have slightly increased chances (2 to 4 times) of developing leukemia. ... Present Treatments for Leukemia The treatment of choice for most forms of leukemia is the use of chemotherapy. The primary goal of chemotherapy in leukemia treatment is to induce a period of remission. ... The type of leukemia present, along with the patient’s age and health status will determine the types of chemotherapeutic drugs that are used. ... Some types of leukemia, including ALL, can also affect the meninges of the brain and spinal cord.