Leukemia Essay, Research Paper

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Essay Name : 407.txt

Uploader : Michael Riley

Email Address :

Language : English

Subject : Biology

Title : Leukemia

Grade : 10th

School System : Private

Country : USA

Author Comments : Good

Teacher Comments : Good Work

Date : 10-30-96

Site found at : surfing

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Leukemia

Leukemia is a disease characterized by the formation of abnormal

numbers of white blood cells, for which no certain cure has been found.

Leukemia is also conditions characterized by the transformation of normal

blood-forming cells into abnormal white blood cells whose unrestrained

growth overwhelms and replaces normal bone marrow and blood cells.

Leukemias are named according to the normal cell from which they

originate, such as Lymphocyte Leukemia. Lymphocyte Leukemia is where a

Lymphocyte cell is transformed into a Leukemia cell. Another example of

Leukemia is Myelocytic or (Granulocytic Leukemia). This forms when a

Myelocytic cell is changed or transformed into a Leukemia cell. Different

Leukemia’s are located in the microscope and by how much protein they

contain. These Leukemia’s are usually very severe and need treatment right

away. The present incidence of new cases per year in the United States is

about 25 to every 100,000 persons.

The danger to the patient lies in the growth of these abnormal white

cells, which interfere with the growth of the red blood cells, normal white

blood cells, and the blood platelets. The uncontrolled growth of the

abnormal white cells produces a tendency to unstop bleeding, the risk of

getting serious infection in the wounds, and a very small possibility of

obstruction of the blood vessels.

Treatment of these Leukemias include chemotherapy with alkylafing

agents, or antimetabodies that suppress the growth of abnormal white cells.

Another treatment of some kind would be the x-ray or the administration or

radioactive substances, or radiophosphorus, may be used. After treatment

these diseases may last for many years. Age of the person diagnosed with

Leukemia does play an important part in how that individual responds to any

treatment. The older the person the less response he may have to treatment.

Leukemia in Animals white blood cells is much less common as Leukemia

in humans white blood cells.

Today’s treatment mostly includes chemotherapy and or bone marrow

transplantation supportive care, where transfusions of blood components and

prompt treatment of complicating infections, is very important. Ninety

percent of children with Acute Lymphocyte Leukemia have received

chemotherapy and fifty percent of theses children have been fully cured of

Leukemia. Treatment of AML or Acute Myeolcytic Leukemia is not as

successful but has been improving more and more throughout the 1990’s.

Scientists that study the cause of Leukemia have not had very much

success lately. Very large doses of x-rays can increase the efficacy growth of

Leukemia. Chemicals such as Benzene also may increase the risk of getting

Leukemia. Scientists have tried experiments on Leukemia in Animals by

transmitting RNA into the body of the Animal. Interpretation of these results

in relation with human Leukemia is very cautious at this time. Studies have

also suggested that family history, race, genetic factors, and geography may

all play some part in determining the rates of growth of these Leukemias.

Stewart Alsop is an example of Acute Myeoblastic Leukemia, or

AML. On the day of July 21, 1971 Stewart was made aware of some of the

doctors suspicions due to his bone marrow test. He was told by his doctor in

Georgetown that his marrow slides looked so unusual that he had brought in

other doctors to view the test and they could not come to an agreement so

they all suggested that he take another bone marrow exam. The second test

was known to be “hypocelluar” meaning that it had very few cells of any sort,

normal of abnormal. The Georgetown doctors counted, about fourty-four

percent of his cells were abnormal, and he added, with a condor that he later

discovered characteristics. “They were ugly-looking cells.” Most of them

looked like Acute Meyoblastic Leukemia cells, but not all some of them

looked like the cells of another kind of Leukemia, Acatymphoblastic

Leukemia, and some of them looked like the cells of still another kind of

bone marrow cancer, not a Leukemia, it is called Dysprotinemia. And even

the Myeloblastic cells didn’t look exactly like Myeloblastic cells should look.

Stewart has been treated with chemotherapy and is still living today but he

doesn’t have very much longer to live.

Sadako Saski was born in Japan in the year of 1943 she died twelve

years later in the year of 1955 of Leukemia. She was in Hiroshima when the

United States Air Force dropped an atomic bomb on that city in an attempt to

end World War II. Sadako Saski was only two years old when all this had

happened. Ten years later, Sadako had been diagnosed with Leukemia as a

result of the radiation from the bomb. At this time Sadako was only a twelve

year old little girl and she died of Leukemia. Everyday Sadako grew weaker

and weaker thinking about her death and the day finally came. Sadako died

on October 25, 1955. Sadako was very much loved by all of her classmates.

At the time of death, her classmates folded 356 paper cranes to be buried

with her. This is a symbol in Jpan of thoughtfulness.

In summary to what I have learned about Leukemia it is a very painful

disease. The people with Leukemia suffer very much throughout the disease

and treatment of the disease, even if they are eventually cured. The treatment

it took to get there was very painful. The studies of Leukemia have helped

alot of people to be cured but there are still alot of people suffering due to no

cure found to help them. I’m sure like all other cures needed, the money is

short funded for the research that cost so very much. Maybe someday soon,

we hope, they will find a cure for all kinds of cancer.

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