A research essay based on Leukemia

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 Leukemia is a class of blood forming tissues cancers that mostly originates from

the bone marrow and also in the lymphatic system this is majorly occurs when the organs

forming blood produce a large number of unusual and undeveloped leucocytes. This disease

influences the making and the role of blood cells. This disease is common in children and adults

depending on the form. Leukemia is concerned with the white blood cells.

This research paper is majorly going to comprise of the following components: types of

leukemia, symptoms and causes of leukemia, organs affected by leukemia, risk factors and

treatment for leukemia.

Leukemia manifests in many types but in this research paper we will dealing with the

four major ones and how they affect the human organs. They include Acute lymphocytic

leukemia (ALL), Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL),

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Others rarer types are myeloproliferative disorders,

hairy cell leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes.

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is frequent in young children where it takes place

in the bone marrow in the making of new cells. It progresses quickly to other parts of the body

like liver, central nervous system. ALL is categorized by symptoms such as: fever, bleeding

gums, swollen lymph nodes in and around the neck, pale skin, frequent infections, frequent

nosebleeds, abdomen or groin, shortness of breath, weakness and fatigue. Scientists have not yet

established the major cause of ALL but some changes in the internally DNA normal bone

marrow cells can cause it. Many Leukemias affect the blood and bone marrow, ALL majorly

affects the lymph nodes and sometimes the brain and testicles in men. The risk factors in All

include smoking of cigarette which has harmful chemicals causing risk of cancer. Genetic

conditions which are inherited increases risk of acquiring cancer like blood syndrome, viruses,
past chemotherapy, electromagnetic fields and exposure to benzene. This disease can be treated

by long-term chemotherapy in adults, radiation therapy, blood transfusion to veins of a patient

and also steroid to replicate hormone effects for tissue growth.

Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is named acute because it progresses quickly,

myelogenous because it touches myeloid cells that grow to grown blood cells. Symptoms

include: easy bruising, fever, loss of appetite, fatigue, shortness of breath, pale skin, frequent

nosebleeds and bleeding from the gums, frequent infections. It occurs when a bone marrow cell

develops errors in its DNA. Is brought about by DNA alteration bone marrow that bring about

the white blood cells, platelets and red blood cells. The alteration makes the mother cells to

manufacture many more white blood cells than are required. The liver, skin, brain, testicles,

kidneys, skin, spleen, lymph nodes, eyes, ears and spinal cord are majorly the organs affected by

AML. The risk factors in AML include: genetic disorders like down syndrome, age (common in

adults in 65 and above), exposure to radiation and dangerous chemical, smoking of cigarette, sex

(men than women likely to acquire it), blood disorders and past cancer treatment using

chemotherapy. AML treatment is based on different aspects like age, subtype of leukemia,

health, and preferences. It involves chemotherapy to kill cancer cells and blood transfusion.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) the word chronic means that it advances steadily

compared to other types lymphocytic meaning it proceeds to the cell affected that assist in

fighting infections and it majorly affects older adults and they usually feel good without any

treatment for years. CLL symptoms include: sweating at night, shortness of breath, pale skin,

swelling tummy, easy bruising, bleeding, swollen glands in the armpits, and neck, weight loss,

tiredness. The cause of CLL is not clear and known but is believed to be a certain genetic

alteration. Low immunity, age (adults of over 70), exposure to radiations and certain chemicals,
family history and race. Nutrition, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, bone marrow transplant,

targeted therapy drugs which attack certain fragments available in cancer cells are some of the

known treatment for CLL.

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) it attacks the white blood cells and starts in the

bone marrow caused by unprompted chromosome alteration it seldom occurs in children but

older adults because many people do not show symptoms until later periods. Some of the

symptoms of Chronic myelogenous leukemia include: Fever, Bone pain, fatigue, bleeding,

weight loos, excessive sweating at night, shortness of breath, abdominal swelling, feeling full

after consuming a small quantity of food, loss of appetite are some of symptoms of CML. This

condition is caused majorly by gene abnormality called translocation give on to Philadelphia

chromosome having anomaly gene leading to expansion of weak white blood cells hence leading

to cancer. It mainly affects the bone marrow. The risk factors of Chronic myelogenous leukemia

are Age where the chance of acquiring it depends on age, gender more common in men than

women, radioactive exposure increases the chances of getting CML. Medication using antibiotics

to avert infections because of patients are susceptible, protein to assist in lowering growth of

leukemia cells, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and several medical procedures

Myeloproliferative disorders are categories of infrequent blood cancers that have unlike

manifestations hence not easy to detect and confirm.

hairy cell leukemia is infrequent, steady type where the marrow makes several lymphocytes that

resists infections. They are hairy through a microscope and they majorly attack more men than

women in old age. Myelodysplastic syndromes occur rarely when the body produce sustaining

normal cells in the bone marrow.

References
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(2009). "The 2008 revision of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of

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