1. Leukemia

2. About Leukemia…
Leukemia refers to cancers of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of white blood cells.
Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow, the spongy center of bones where our blood cells are formed. The disease develops when blood cells produced in the bone marrow grow out of control.
An estimated 44,600 new cases of leukemia are expected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2011.

3. Types of Leukemia. ACUTE Chronic Lymphocytic
slowly developing
rapidly developing
Acute myelogenous leukemia
affects the myeloid cells.
Usually does not cause any symptoms.
Acute lymphocytic leukemia.
Affects the lymphocytes
CLL is the second most common form of leukemia in adults.

4. CAUSES…
Researchers have not yet identified the exact causes of leukemia. However, research has shown that there are certain risk factors for leukemia. While these risk factors increase a person's chances of developing the disease, they are not leukemia causes.
Exposure to very high levels of radiation
Working with certain chemicals
Receiving chemotherapy
Having Down syndrome and other genetic conditions
Having human T-cell leukemia virus-1 (HTLV-1)
Smoking--about 20 percent of adult acute leukemia cases are related to smoking.

5. Symptoms.
Leukemia symptoms vary, depending on the type of leukemia. Common leukemia signs and symptoms include:
Fever or chills
Persistent fatigue, weakness
Frequent infections
Losing weight without trying
Swollen lymph nodes, enlarged liver or spleen
Easy bleeding or bruising
Tiny red spots in your skin (petechiae)
Excessive sweating, especially at night
Bone pain or tenderness

6. DIAGNOSIS.
A CBC ( Complete Blood Count) test is done to show high or low levels of white cells and shows leukemia cells in the blood.
A bone marrow biopsy and aspiration, in which marrow samples are removed (usually from the back of the hip) often used to confirm the diagnosis.
Blood Tests
Total count, Hematocrit assay
Hemoglobin level
Blood cell morphology tests /staining
Blood chemistry tests
Genetic studies including karyotype, FISH

7. Treatment… The choice of treatment depends mainly on the following:
The type of leukemia (acute or chronic)
Your age
Whether leukemia cells were found in your cerebrospinal fluid
Chemotherapy
Radiation Therapy
Bone Marrow Transplant

8. Prognosis.
Prognosis largely depends on age and response to therapies Childhood leukemias are mostly of the acute variety. They are easily treatable and can even be cured. Chronic leukemia in adults has a good life expectancy

9. References