Leukemia is a blood cancer.
Leukemia is an "equal opportunity" cancer---it does not discriminate. It is one of the few cancers that can strike during childhood. Although it is rare, awareness needs to be raised in both children and adults for the different types of leukemia out there. Who is at risk? The best way to ensure a high survival rate is to educate ourselves to ensure early diagnosis and increased research in the medical field.
Defining Leukemia
Leukemia is a cancer caused by abnormal cells in the bone marrow that multiply and eventually take over the normal blood cells. Since healthy blood cells (both red and white) exist to defend the immune system, the siege on the normal cells impairs the body's ability to protect itself. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) lists the four main types of leukemia as acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). AML and CML are the most common, but ALL is the most likely to form in children under the age of 15.
Knowing the Risks
Leukemia is a tricky cancer; the risk factors and causes are not known for most leukemia types. People seem to develop it out of nowhere. However, according to LLS, particular kinds of chemotherapy and radiation therapy can increase a person's susceptibility to AML. Others with a higher diagnosis rate of AML are people with Down syndrome and smokers of tobacco products.
Identifying Symptoms
Blood tests and biopsies aid in diagnoses.
Leukemia symptoms vary depending on the location of the abnormal blood cells. Health care specialists at the American Cancer Society mention the following symptoms: joint pain, anemia, recurrent infections, stomach pains, swollen lymph nodes, difficulty breathing, weight loss, weakness and bruising. Diagnosis is rare before symptoms begin; there are no tests for early detection. If you have the above symptoms, your doctor will most likely perform a blood test or biopsy your bone marrow or lymph nodes. Spinal taps, CT scans and ultrasounds can also be used to confirm diagnosis.
Finding Treatments
Treatment depends on the type of Leukemia. Chemotherapy is the main treatment, usually combined with a number of anti-cancer drugs. Radiation therapy, surgery, or blood and stem cell transplants are also options. A combination of all these treatments can be used. In fact, LLS states that chemotherapy or radiation performed before a stem cell transplant will increase the likelihood of successful treatment.
Raising Awareness
The goal of all leukemia treatments is remission. Although remission rates are steadily increasing every year, every 10 minutes someone dies of a blood cancer like leukemia.
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is devoted to increasing awareness about leukemia. Since the organization was created in 1954, is has provided $680 million toward blood cancer research. While organizations like LLS have helped to increase awareness, bone marrow donors are still in constant demand for patients, and a cure has yet to be found.
Tags: blood cancer, blood cells, bone marrow, chemotherapy radiation, leukemia acute, leukemia chronic, Leukemia Lymphoma