Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the white blood cells in the bone marrow. When someone has leukemia, abnormal white blood cells, called leukemia cells, are created. The leukemia cells do not die off fast enough resulting in too many bad cells crowding the normal cells.
Acute leukemia is when the cancer progresses quickly and chronic leukemia worsens slower. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) are the four main types of leukemia. Leukemia occurs in children and adults. Men are more likely to get leukemia than women.
There is no known cause of leukemia. There are some known risk factors that can increase the chance of getting leukemia. Smoking, exposure to radiation and some chemicals can increase the risk. The most common symptoms of leukemia are fever, weakness, headaches, pain in joints, infections and bruising. Leukemia is diagnosed by getting and testing blood samples and bone marrow.
Leukemia can be treated with chemotherapies which are the most common. Also, radiation therapies, bone marrow transplants or biological therapies are possible treatments. Acute leukemia can often be cured. People can go into remission but can relapse. Follow-up care is recommended when a person goes into remission. Infections and pneumonia are still at risk.
References
Fayed, Lisa. “What is cancer remission?.” About.com. N.p., 13 Oct. 2005. Web. 20 Jan. 2012.
“Leukemia.” MedicineNet.com. MedicineNet, Inc, 1996-2012. Web. 21 Jan 2012.
“Leukemia-Topic Overview.” WebMD.com. WebMD, LLC, 2005-2012. Web. 21 Jan 2012.
