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Leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood. Leukemia occurs when bone marrow cells reproduce abnormally, resulting in an excess of certain types of blood cells. There are a variety of forms of leukemia, and these forms are classified according to the blood cell involved. Treatment for leukemia includes chemotherapy, radiation... more »
Leukemia, a form of blood cancer, affects adults and children alike. It is the most common blood cancer and the most common type of childhood cancer. Whether you are currently affected by this disease, know someone who is, or are at risk for developing it, learning more about leukemia will help you understand what could happen in the... more »
Leukemia is a type of cancer affecting white blood cells, or those which will become (immature) white cells. Genetic mutations occur, either inherited or acquired, causing over-production of abnormal white blood cells. Once in the bone marrow, these abnormally functioning cells crowd out and replace healthy ones. This causes anemia,... more »
Childhood leukemia comes in two basic forms; the most common is acute lymphoblastic leukemia. According to envirohealthpolicy.net, AL leukemia strikes 59 of every 1 million children under age 5. The symptoms of the disease are devastating, ranging from anemia to bone pain. Fortunately, thanks to modern medicine, there's a high... more »
Leukemia is the neoplastic cancer of either your blood or your bone marrow in which healthy marrow or blood is replaced with immature white blood cells. Leukemia is very life threatening if you don't get immediate attention in the early stages. Reading this article will teach you how to detect leukemia. more »
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Leukemia is caused by a genetic mutation in the DNA of blood cells, which is sometimes caused by translocation of pieces of DNA. These genetic... more »
Leukemia is a type of cancer that originates in the blood. Blood cells form and mature in the bone marrow (the soft tissue in the center of your... more »
One of the biggest health concerns in our country today is cancer. This dreaded disease affects people of all ages from all walks of life, and... more »
The goal of treatment is remission, that is, a return to a somewhat more normal white blood cell (WBC) count. These are the most common therapies. more »
Leukemia is a cancer of the blood. It typically spreads to the blood after beginning in the bone marrow. It may eventually attack other major... more »
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Caption A Wrights stained bone marrow aspirate smear of patient with precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.|
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Leukemia () (Greek leukos λευκός, "white"; aima αίμα, "blood") is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow and is characterized by an abnormal proliferation (production by multiplication) of blood cells, usually white blood cells (leukocytes). Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases. In turn, it is part of the even broader group of diseases called hematological neoplasms.
Classification
Leukemia is clinically and pathologically subdivided into a variety of large groups. The first division is between its acute and chronic forms:
* Acute leukemia is characterized by the rapid increase of immature blood cells. This crowding makes the bone marrow unable to produce healthy blood cells. Immediate treatment is required in acute leukemia due to the rapid progression and accumulation of the malignant cells, which then spill over into the bloodstream and spread to other organs of the body. Acute forms of leukemia are the most common forms of leukemia in children.
* Chronic leukemia is distinguished by the excessive build up of relatively mature, but still abnormal, white blood cells. Typically taking months or years to progress, the cells are produced at a much higher rate than normal cells, resulting in many abnormal white blood cells in the blood. Whereas acute leukemia must be treated immediately, chronic forms are sometimes monitored for some time before treatment to ensure maximum effectiveness of therapy. Chronic leukemia mostly occurs in older people, but can theoretically occur in any age group.
Additionally, the diseases are subdivided according to which kind of blood cell is affected. This split divid read more at » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leukemia
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