Leukemia By: Manuel Gomez

What is leukemia  Leukemia also called blood cancer  A disease in which the bone marrow and organs that form blood, produce leukocytes in increased proportions and are immature.(leukocytes are white blood cells)

Types of leukemia  Acute myeloid Leukemia (AML)  Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)  Acute lymphocytic leukemia(ACL)  Chronic lymphocytic leukemia(CLL)

Acute myeloid leukemia  In acute leukemia there are too many immature blood forming cells in the cell and bone arrow, the cells that areinmature are the leukocytes  The leukocytes are the cells that fight infections.  Symptoms of AML are similar to the flue  Fever  Body weakness/fatigue  Weight loss & appetite  Body aches,bone ache, easy bruising  Bleeding  Poor healing of minor cuts, minor infections

Chronic myeloid leukemia  Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)- it affects the blood forming cells of the bone marrow, what causes these cells to change is a genetic mutation that takes place in the early stages of an immature cells of the myeloid.  The leukemia cells grow and duplicate as any other cell, they build up in the bone marrow and then are “spilled” to the blood. Now that they are in the body they reach other parts of the body including the spleen.  CML is a “slow growing leukemia” but it can change into acute leukemia

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)  Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL),start in the bone marrow.  Invades blood quickly, then spread to other parts of the body including the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, central nervous system.

Chronic Lymphocytic leukemia(CLL)  Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a type of cancer that starts from cells that become certain white blood cells (called lymphocytes) in the bone marrow. The cancer (leukemia) cells start in the bone marrow but then go into the blood.  In CLL, the leukemia cells often build up slowly over time, and many people don't have any symptoms for at least a few years. In time, the cells can spread to other parts of the body, including the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen.

How many people are infected?  Around every 3 minutes one person in the US is diagnosed.  About 327,520 people have leukemia  About every 9 minutes someone dies from leukemia in the US.

How leukemia forms  Leukemia forms by a genetic mutation in the cells, creates an abnormal  Leukemia is thought to occur when some blood cells acquire mutations in their DNA — the instructions inside each cell that guide its action. There may be other changes in the cells that have yet to be fully understood could contribute to leukemia.

What is the treatment for leukemia  There is different treatment for each type of leukemia  ALL- there is induction, consolidation and maintenance.  In induction therapy kills the leukemia cells in the bone marrow and blood. The treatments are chemotherapy and corticosteroids.  In consolidation it kills any leukemia cells that test did not detect.  Maintained therapy this is to prevent the leukemia cells from growing. Continued for 3 years just to be safe.

Treatment for AML  Treatment for AML  Induction of remission  Kills blood and bone marrow. Chemotherapy is given.  Post-remission therapy  Kills any leukemia cells that may be present still in the body theses are the cells that the tests did not detect.

Leukemia treatment for CML  Targeted therapy-tyrosine kinase inhibitor first treatment. Early detected diagnosed  Steam cell transplant-before this step chemotherapy and radiation is used to destroy the bone marrow activity.

Psychological affects of leukemia  Effects of having leukemia is that it changes he perspective of the carrier and the family members. Some things that the carrier goes through after beating leukemia are dealing with physical changes because side effects of the treatment. Worries about leukemia coming back. Having low self esteem for having to go through leukemia. Being worried that people are going to judge them. And lastly concerns about their love life.

To the family members of the carrier  It affects the family because they have to react him in a different way because the family member doesn’t know if the carrier can do those activities with no trouble.

Preventions  Prevent by not being exposed to high doses of radiation, chemical benzene, smoking tobacco or other use, and some types of chemotherapy.

Organizations  Organizations  Leukemia & lymphoma society  Leukemia research foundation