Just like the cancer in any part of the body, which is characterized by uncontrolled growth of the cells, Leukemia is also a type of cancer that is developed and takes malignant form in our blood stream or born marrow. The malfunction in the production of the white blood cells mainly causes the blood cancer or leukemia. Globally this is one of the major types of cancer that is responsible for millions of people's lives and suffering. Presently more than 300,000 of children and adults are suffering from the disease and causing death tolls for great majority of people. Here we would mention some of the major types of leukemia or blood cancer, signs and symptoms of leukemia or blood cancer, causes or risk factors of the disease and prevention as well as treatment of the leukemia or blood cancer.
Definition of Leukemia or Blood Cancer
When the immature white blood cells are produced in large concentrations and disproportionately this cause an excessive increase in the presence of immature white blood cells in the blood and thereby cause cancer. In clinical language this is the definition of the leukemia or blood cancer. These white blood cells are also called blasts in the clinical term. The term leukemia is a broad term covering the various acute stages of the malfunction in the production of the white blood cells.
Types of Leukemia or Blood Cancer
Various clinical stages of the disease of leukemia or blood cancer can be categorized into two gross categories, respectively, acute leukemia and chronic leukemia. Acute leukemia is characterized by rapid increase in the production of the white blood cells that causes the ineffectual born marrow in producing the healthy blood cells because of the overcrowded blood vessels with immature white blood cells. In acute leukemia the blood cells through the passage of the blood stream rapidly spreads into other organs of the body and affects the body with malignant cells. Chronic leukemia is characterized by the excessive increase of the relatively mature white blood cells that needs to be more matured to be called healthy. In chronic type of leukemia the white blood cells are produced at a higher speed than normal but not in that rate as in acute leukemia. Clinically speaking many other categories or types of leukemia or blood cancer are defined in regard to how the blood cells are affected.
Signs and symptoms of Leukemia or Blood Cancer
People with leukemia are devoid or lacked of platelets which are considered as blood clotting agent in the blood and this leads to excessive and incessant bleeding from any injury, becoming easily subject to bleeding injury, etc. Just because of being devoid of healthy blood cells people with leukemia become more prone to various types of infections in various organic functions. People with leukemia generally are weak and lethargic and prone to various types of sickness and regular common diseases as with unhealthy blood cells they lack the power to boost their immune system. As blood dysfunction severely affects the central nervous system, leukemia may cause neurological problems also.
Causes of Leukemia or Blood Cancer
Hereditary cause is one of the most cited clinical causes of leukemia. No single cause or contributing factor is important factor in causing the disease of leukemia, but several factors combined together can play a great deal in causing leukemia, like ionizing radiation, mutations or changes in the DNA, Human T-lymphotropic virus, diseases like anemia, etc. are considered as major contributing actors to the disease of leukemia.
Treatment of Leukemia or Blood Cancer
The treatment of leukemia mainly depends on the stage of the disease and the particular type of the disease and other facts related to the medical history of the patient. In most cases the treatment of leukemia focuses on the bone marrow, as bone marrow is the most vital organ in creating and transforming the blood cells. Apart from medicinal treatment and chemotherapy bone marrow transplant in many cases is thought to be most useful in treating leukemia.
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