Leukemia Facts

eukemia causes are still unknown. In the moment, medical science is unable to establish the specific causes of leukemia. However, a strong correlation between genetic factors and the development of the disease was revealed. Leukemia occurs on the background of genetic failure that causes excessive production of incomplete, partial maturation of blood cells. In addition, the leukemia has a hereditary character, which allows the transmission of genetic predisposition to the disease from one generation to another. Although many factors are known to contribute to the development of leukemia by themselves can not be regarded as causes of leukemia.

The cause of acute leukemia is unknown. The only thing we can say with certainty is that some people are more at risk of contracting the disease than others. People who are exposed to radiation or certain chemicals have the greatest chance of contracting the disease. In addition, there is the hereditary factor. We saw that children receive the defective gene from their mother and this gene can cause acute leukemia. People who tend to bruise easily or leukemia bleed from the nose and gums. In addition to weak immune system, there is a general feeling of fatigue and unexplained weight loss. The disease itself has no specific symptoms.

Under normal conditions, these stem cells develop into either red blood cells, white cells or platelets, in a controlled manner. Leukemia disrupts the normal development of blood cells and causes the accumulation of partially developed cells, which are not able to fulfill their role in the body. Judging by the speed of development and persistence of the disease, there are two types of leukemia: acute leukemia and chronic leukemia. Acute leukemia is different from the chronic leukemia at the stem cells are capable of achieving in their development (stem cells that have defects still manage to develop and is partially resemble immature cells or complete, WBC normal).

Leukemia is a disease of the bone marrow which arises when abnormal white blood cells begin to reproduce constantly. Leukemia, which literally means "white blood" in Greek, occurs when there is an excess of abnormal white blood cells in the blood. The disease usually begins in the white blood cells. The hematopoietic (hematopoietic) cells from bone marrow to produce white blood cells defend the body against infectious agents such as viruses and bacteria. If the cells reach the central nervous system and accumulate in the cerebrospinal fluid that support the brain and spine, they can cause headaches and seizures.

The chances of survival are better with the combination of ATRA and chemotherapy than chemotherapy alone. Because ATRA combined with chemotherapy accounts for a slightly higher rate of complete remission while allowing far fewer relapses. Maintenance therapy with ATRA, and possibly with low-dose chemotherapy, further reduces the occurrence of a relapse. The advent of ATRA therapy has revolutionized the treatment of promyelocytic leukemia and clearly improved the prognosis.

A definitive cause of leukemia is not yet known because it can affect people of all ages and both sexes. A link between leukemia and benzene, however, or prolonged exposure to high doses of radiation could not be established. But most cases can not be rationally explained. The main goal of treatment for leukemia is to destroy all existing abnormal cells in the blood and bone marrow. Complete remission means not leaving traces of cancerous changes. Some of the cases treated showed a recurrence of the disease to other signs and symptoms.