| Cancer hits many families and many people at all ages | | | | red blood cell count causes anemia in leukemia |
| of life. It is a devastating diagnosis for the patient | | | | patients. Other typical reactions include flu-like |
| and friends and family. Leukemia is a form of cancer | | | | symptoms such as fever, chills, and sweats. Fatigue |
| where immune cells proliferate without normal | | | | and lethargy are often acquired. For acute |
| regression after disease has been terminated. It is | | | | symptoms, bone pain, joint pain, and severe paleness |
| named for the "milky" coloration of blood from the | | | | are shown in patients. |
| high count of white blood cells. Leukemia often hits | | | | Some leukemia patients do not even show signs of |
| children and symptoms can be disregarded and not | | | | high white blood cells in diagnosis tests. A rare form |
| properly diagnosed if not treated immediately. | | | | called aleukemia exists where test results can return |
| Leukemia is actually a broad medical term. Leukemia | | | | as normal, however the patient still possesses |
| cancer is separated into two, more defined forms | | | | abnormal growths of bone marrow tissue. |
| named chronic leukemia and acute leukemia. Acute | | | | Theories as to the causes of leukemia cancer are |
| leukemia cancer tends to afflict children and young | | | | thought to arise from mutated DNA in somatic cells. |
| adults. Its proliferation of bone marrow cells inhibits | | | | The DNA mutations inhibit natural cell death, division, |
| bone marrow to make properly healthy cells. It is an | | | | and proliferation. These mutations are thought to be |
| extremely dangerous form of cancer since malignant | | | | the result of exposure to radiation or other |
| cells are readily available to the blood stream to | | | | carcinogens. |
| transport to other organs. | | | | Viruses can also account for certain samples of |
| Chronic leukemia cancer is better known for the | | | | leukemia in patients. Human immunodeficiency virus |
| abnormal proliferation of mature white blood cells. | | | | (HIV) or human T-lymphotropic virus are thought to |
| When your body is faced with disease, white blood | | | | carry with them a form of leukemia. |
| cells divide rapidly to quickly eliminate intruding | | | | If you or a loved one is diagnosed with leukemia, |
| microbes. A normal immune system will later destroy | | | | there are some common treatments to expect. |
| the excess white blood cells, however with leukemia | | | | Chemotherapy is probably the most common form |
| they continue to proliferate. Chronic leukemia mostly | | | | of anti-cancerous treatment. Chemotherapy is used in |
| afflicts older adults, and therapy is monitored through | | | | most forms of cancer as an efficient way to kill |
| typical, regular doctor appointments. | | | | cancer cells. Interferon treatment is a new, less |
| The abnormal response from immune cells in cancer | | | | traumatic form of therapy. It stimulates the immune |
| patients of leukemia will eventually suppress the | | | | system to fight off the disease. Other forms of |
| immune system giving rise to symptoms of the | | | | treatments are marrow transplants and radiation |
| disease. One life threatening side effect of abnormally | | | | treatment. Transplants will replenish bone marrow |
| high white blood cells is the lowered amount of red | | | | with healthy cells while radiation will target harmful |
| blood cells which carry oxygen to the body. The low | | | | cancer cells for elimination. |