What Is Leukemia and Who Is at Risk - Term Paper Example

?What Is Leukemia? Who Is at Risk? Introduction Leukemia is a disease that is developed by the continuous increase of white blood cells. It is a condition of developing and spreading of unusual white blood cells in the body. These rare cells are leukemia cells. As these cells increase in number and when they gather in the bone marrow they obstruct the formation and development of other types of blood cells. When they move around the body, they gather in various places and as a result cause swelling or pain. The leukemia cells do not die and they collect the normal white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. This factor does not help the normal blood cells to carry out their work. Leukemia begins in the bone marrow and later spreads throughout the body. Mostly, a bone marrow test is carried out to identify leukemia. Both adults and children can develop this disease. “Although leukemia often is thought to be a childhood disease, in fact, the disease strikes 10 times as many adults as children.” (Leukemia Facts & Figures, n.d.) Though exact reason for a person to develop leukemia is not known, many significant clinical trials have been done on the development of Leukemia. Every year, around 250,000 people are being identified to have developed leukemia and over 200,000 of them die (Vogt, 2010). The treatment methods for this disease are surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy. Though there are many tests to diagnose leukemia, the diagnosis itself may be delayed due to delayed symptoms or symptoms which resemble other conditions. The diagnosis of leukemia may vary according to the kind of leukemia that has developed in a person. Statistics say that “in the United States about 2,000 children and 27,000 adults are diagnosed each year with leukemia” (Leukemia Information, 2011). Survival rates have increased considerably in the years before due to improvements in treatment. Symptoms of this disease may not be noticeable many times, particularly in chronic leukemia, but people may get symptoms like tiredness, inexplicable weight loss, and fever at times. Other symptoms of leukemia like headaches, joint pain, and pain in the belly due to enlarged spleen may also be noticed. Types of Leukemia Leukemia has been divided into various groups. Leukemia is a term covering four forms of diseases of the blood and bone marrow. These include “acute lymphocytic leukemia and acute myelogenous leukemia”. These two types of leukemia progress rapidly while the other two types, “the chronic lymphocytic leukemia and chronic myelogenous leukemia, progress slowly” (Leukemia, n.d.). Acute leukemia exemplifies swift increase of immature blood cells. Instant and necessary treatment is required in acute leukemia due to this fast development and growth of the abnormal cells. The acute form of leukemia is most common in children. Chronic leukemia is found in those that progress relatively slow when compared to acute forms. The chronic leukemia cells are abnormal white blood cells that take many months or years to progress. The cells are produced much more in number than normal cells. Chronic leukemia is monitored for a certain amount of time before initializing treatment so as to make sure the maximum usefulness of therapy. This form of leukemia is more often found in elderly people but occurs in any age. Leukemia is further divided into various types (What is Leukemia? What causes Leukemia, 2009): 1. Acute lymphocytic leukemia: This form of leukemia is more common in young children. This disease is also found in older people who are 65 years and above. The standard treatment for this type would be chemotherapy and radiation. The rate of survival is 85% in children and 50% in adults. 2. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia: This is most frequently found in adults over 55 years of age. This type is seldom found in children. The rate of survival is five years and is found in adults. It is not curable. 3. Acute myelogenous leukemia: This form is more easily found in adults than children and in men than women. Chemotherapy treats acute myelogenous leukemia. The existence rate of five years is 40%. 4. Chronic myelogenous leukemia: This type of leukemia occurs chiefly in elderly people though a few children are also affected by this disease. This disease would be handled by drugs. There is 90% survival in this type of leukemia. 5. Hairy cell leukemia: This form of leukemia is a division of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. 80% of the people are adult men who are affected by this disease. Hairy cell leukemia is incurable and 96% to 100% are alive up to 10 years after diagnosis. 6. T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia: This is an unusual and destructive form of leukemia. This affects mostly adult men. It is very rare and not curable. People who develop this type of leukemia live only for months after diagnosis. Who Is at Risk? It is very difficult for doctors to explain why one person is affected by leukemia and the other is not. However, researchers explain that people with some kind of risk factors are surer to be affected by this disease than the rest of the people. A risk factor means one that amplifies a person’s chance of developing a disease. By researches done throughout the world, it is noticed that there are some risk factors which raises a person’s risk of getting leukemia. Risk factors may vary e.g., “exposure to large amounts of high-energy radiation, working with chemicals, and certain genetic diseases that may be the cause for a person to be affected by leukemia. The risk of getting chronic myeloid leukemia increases with age. This disease is slightly more common in males than females” (Leukemia – CML, 2011). One main condition of genetic disease is the Down’s syndrome. Children with this syndrome easily develop leukemia. When myelodysplastic syndrome, a blood disease, is diagnosed in a person, the person is at a greater risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia. “Certain hereditary or abnormal genes appear to put people at increased risk of leukemia, including those which also cause Down syndrome. Other disorders which are associated with increased risk of leukemia include Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, Fanconi’s anemia, neurofibromatosis, and Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome” (Vogt, 2010). Workers who are exposed to certain chemicals during their work hours develop leukemia. One such chemical is Benzene. Also another important risk factor is the medicines which are used for treating other cancer diseases. Smoking cigarettes too is a root cause for developing acute myelogenous leukemia (Risk Factors, n.d.). Older people are at more risk factor of developing leukemia. Adults are mainly at high risk of developing this disease primarily those above the age of 60 years. Even though if a person has all the above said risk factors, it may not be sure that he/she will develop leukemia. On the other hand, many people with no risk factors develop leukemia. Having a risk factor for leukemia increases the chances of getting closer to the disease but not always leads to developing the disease itself. The exact cause behind why a person is being affected by leukemia is still unclear. But if a person feels that he/she is under such risk factors should consult and discuss their concerns with a physician. Treatment There are many treatment options for people with leukemia. The options can be listed as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy and if the spleen is enlarged due to leukemia then the doctor may suggest the removal of spleen. Though there are many treatment options, the choice of treatment varies with the form and intensity of leukemia along with age factor. People affected with acute leukemia have to be treated immediately. The first aim of the treatment would be remission. This means destroying any sign of leukemia in the body. After remission, people are treated for prevention of a relapse. There are many ways by which people with acute leukemia can be cured. People with chronic leukemia are found without any symptoms, the patient will not need a cancer treatment immediately instead the doctor would wait and monitor the health condition of the person affected so that he can begin treatment when the symptoms are easily noticed. Conclusion Leukemia is a disease which affects numerous people around the world. It is a frightening and dreadful disorder which takes away the lives of many people and is being dealt with positively in the entire medical world. But fortunately, it has been through the past few decades a hopeful future with the developments of new drugs in curing leukemia. There are many latest developments of technology and research in the field of medicine which helps to increase the survival years of leukemia. Taking into account the problems that enclose leukemia and the possibility of death there are increasing ways to treat this startling disease. Most of the treatment methods have been developed recently and many more developments are on in their testing phases. Bibliography 1. Leukemia Facts & Figures. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.oncologychannel.com/leukemias/facts-figures.shtml 2. Leukemia. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/hematologic/leukemia/index.htm 3. Risk Factors. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic Staff. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/leukemia/DS00351/DSECTION=risk-factors 4. Leukemia – Chronic Myeloid (CML). (2011). Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/Leukemia-ChronicMyeloidCML/DetailedGuide/leukemia-chronic-myeloid-myelogenous-risk-factors 5. What Is Leukemia? What Causes Leukemia. (2009). http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/142595.php 6. Leukemia Information. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.cancercenter.com/leukemia/leukemia-information.cfm 7. Vogt, D. (2010). Risk Factors for Leukemia. Retrieved from http://www.helium.com/items/1938746-risk-factors-for-leukemia Read More