Leukemia Essay, Research Paper

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.