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- Leukemia means white blood in Greek
- Cause unknownMayoClinic.com: Leukemia: Causes
- Not just a childhood disease
- May be acute or chronicMayoClinic.com: Leukemia: Causes
- May be lymphocytic or myelogenousMayoClinic.com: Leukemia: Causes
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Leukemia is a cancer of the blood that produces abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow. As the cancer advances, it eventually blocks the growth of normal white blood cells which are important for fighting off diseases. Leukemia also overcomes red blood cells and platelets which interferes with oxygen flow through the blood and blood clotting. There are four main types and several subtypes of leukemia, which are discussed below. You will also find a featured video on new technologies used for diagnosis and treatment and news and blogs sections so you can keep up with the latest developments in the treatments for leukemia.MayoClinic.com: Leukemia
Types
- Acute Leukemia
- In this form, the changed leukemia cell proliferates, forming about a trillion more nonfunctioning leukemia cells, crowding out the normal cells which reduces normal production. Red blood cell counts drop causing anemia and a compromised immune system. marrow; in turn, this causes a decrease in the Platelet counts drop, so patients bruise easier and bleed easier. There are two types:
- Acute lymphocytic leukemia -
- Acute myelogenous leukemia
- Chronic Leukemia
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia - many white blood cells are produced, can cause the blood flow to slow down and anemia.
- Chronic myelogenous leukemia - too many lymphocytes are made that do not function. May lead to anemia, low platelet and neutrophil counts, and the immune system is weakened.http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/all_page?item_id=7026
United States Statistics
- New cases: 44,270 per yearNCI: Leukemia
- Deaths: 21,710 per yearNCI: Leukemia
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Excerpt from "The Secrets of the Sequence" on Finding Leukemia Cures
Research scientists have investigated the use of genomic typing as a replacement diagnositic technique for pinpointing the type of leukemia that patients have. This technique has helped identify and develop drug therapies that work with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) and Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL). With other types of leukemia, such as Acute Myeloid Leukemia, conventional chemotherapy is needed to wipe out the cancerous stem cells in the bone marrow, and afterwards bone marrow stem cell transplant can be done. However, only about 1 in 4 affected people find a match. There is current research on developing stem cell lines from cells of the patients as a cure. This type of approach has worked in studies on mice.
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