Acute Myelogenous Leukemia

By Laurette Langerstein

AML or acute myelogenous leukemia is a type of cancer that attacks the human body's bone marrow and blood. The blood cells inside a human body are composed of red blood cells and white blood cells, also known as platelets. Patients who suffer from AML have insufficient amounts of red or white blood cells; in some cases these cells are cultivated in an anomalous, usually reckless pace, which results to the progression and development of illnesses.

Current statistics show that in the USA, approximately 11,900 new cases of acute myelogenous leukemia are being diagnosed each year. Studies also indicate that acute myelogenous leukemia is not contagious or genetic; it usually results from exposure to the chemical benzene. Research further indicates that 65 is the average age of a person suffering from AML.

Benzene Exposure

A chemical compound, benzene is highly flammable and is a recognized carcinogen. Although its use in gasoline has been minimized, it has turned into an essential solvent for industrial purposes. It is used in the production of synthetic rubber, plastic and certain drugs. Exposure to benzene has been linked to the development of acute myelogenous leukemia and other types of cancer.

The health problems that may result from exposure to benzene are:

*Leukemia and other forms of cancer

*Development of anemia

*Dizziness and confusion

*Immune system functioning below normal

Symptoms of AML

Patients who suffer from acute myelogenous leukemia are commonly unaware that they have been exposed to benzene. This is exposure often occurs through accidental ingestion or inhalation due to the nature of their work, or in their immediate surroundings. Benzene exposure over a prolonged period of time can result to acute myelogenous leukemia and other fatal diseases, which are sadly oftentimes diagnosed too late for the fatal end-results to be reversed.

Patients who have acute myelogenous leukemia experience the following symptoms:

*Joint or bone pain

*shortness of breath and fatigue

*Infections that are recurring

*Swelling of the abdomen

About the Author:

Discover more about Acute Myelogenous Leukemia and benzene when you read the entries on the Benzene Leukemia Law Blog.

3 Major Types Of Cancer Explained

Cancer is a disease that can affect any of the body's cells. It starts to develop when the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in your body's cells becomes disrupted or damaged. DNA contains specific instructions that tell your cells when to divide and multiply which allows them to grow in a controlled manner. If the DNA becomes disrupted then these instructions become distorted your cells start to grow in a rapid and uncontrollable way. This uncontrolled growth causes a lump to form which is referred to as a tumour. This tumour can ultimately become cancerous and start to affect other areas of the body. In this article I will be discussing three of the major types of cancer in greater detail.

1) CARCINOMAS:- Carcinomas are the most prominent type of cancer accounting for around 85% of all diagnoses. They develop in the epithelial cells that line the body and its organs. Carcinomas can be further grouped into four sub-types; squamous cell carcinomas (which affect the lining of the mouth and the airways), adenocarcinomas (which affect the lining of the glands), transitional cell carcinoma (which affects the lining of the bladder) and basal cell carcinomas (which affect the skin).

2) LEUKAEMIAS & LYMPHOMAS:- These types of cancer represent around 7% of cancer cases. They are grouped together because they both develop in the cells of the immune system. Leukaemias develop in the cells of the myeloid system which protects your body from bacteria and parasites. Lymphomas develop in the lymphatic system which help your body fight infection.

3) SARCOMAS:- Sarcomas are one of the rarest types of cancer accounting for less than 1% of all diagnoses. They develop in the connective tissues of the body and can be further divided into three main sub-types; bone carcinomas (which affect the bones), gastro-intestinal stromal tumours (which affect the stomach and the intestine) and soft tissue sarcomas (which affect soft connective tissues such as muscle and fat).

Cancer is a horrible disease which very often turns out to be fatal. Unfortunately, many people know very little about this condition and how it develops. I hope this article has helped you learn a little more about this disease and shed some light on the various types of cancer and the cells they affect.

Whilst every intention has been made to make this article accurate and informative, it is intended for general information only. Cancer is a very serious, life threatening condition and you should discuss any concerns, treatments or lifestyle changes fully with your doctor.

Tom Parker owns and operates a number of useful fitness resources and websites. You can learn more about the different types of cancer by visiting; http://blog.freefitnesstips.co.uk/what-is-cancer.html

Leukemia Is The White Blood Cell Disease

By Richard H Ealom

INTRODUCTION: Leukemia means white blood. It is found in the bone marrow or blood and is characterized by an abnormal growth of blood cells, typically white blood cells (leukocytes)and is separated into its acute and chronic forms.

It can affect the digestive tract,kidneys, lungs, or other parts of the body and can also collect in the testicles causing swelling. Leukemia is one of the most common cancers of children, But isn't just a children's disease, as many think.

It is newly diagnosed in about 29,000 adults and 2000 children each year in the United States and has four main types and many sub-types of which only some of them are common among children.

Leukemia that has metastasize (spread) to the brain may produce central nervous system effects, including headaches, seizures, weakness, blurred or distorted vision, balance difficulties, or vomiting and the chemotherapy used to treat it, can cause anemia.

ACUTE LEUKEMIA: Leukemia in it's acute form is characterized by the rapid increase of immature blood cells, and is potentially curable; However only a small number of patients are cured with todays therapy. It begins with one or a few white blood cells that have a lost or damaged DNA sequence and becomes worse quickly and may make you feel sick right away.

Leukemia tends to develop suddenly and quickly, however some chronic types may exist for many years before they are even diagnosed. Immediate treatment is required due to the rapid growth and accumulation of these malignant cells, which then can spill over into the blood stream and spread to other organs.

Although acute leukemia must be treated immediately, chronic forms of the disease are sometimes monitored for some time before any treatment is begun to ensure maximum effectiveness of therapy.

CHRONIC LEUKEMIA: Chronic leukemia is recognized by an excessive build up of relatively mature, but abnormal blood cells and can go undetected for many years until identified in a routine blood test. It is more common between the ages of 40 to 70 and rarely occurs among younger people.

It tends to gets worse slowly and may not produce symptoms for years. Like many cancers, it is a disease that usually occurs in old age. Doctors often find chronic leukemia during a regular checkup, before there are any noticeable symptoms. In grownups, the acute forms occur in those of all ages, whereas the chronic forms tend to occur in people over 40 years. Although slow-growing chronic leukemia can also be seen in children, although it is very rare, accounting for less than 50 cases in children each year in the US.

TREATMENT: Treatment for leukemia is complex and it depends largely on your age and health, the type and how far it has metastasize or spread. Treatment is generally considered necessary when the patient shows signs and symptoms such as low blood cell numbers. Generally speaking, all treatment is divided into several different phases. In children, an intensive 6-month treatment program is needed after induction, followed by 2 years of chemotherapy.

In low risk children, standard treatment usually consists of three drugs (prednisone, L-asparaginase, and vincristine) for the first month of treatment. Higher risk patients receive larger drug doses and extra treatment with chemotherapy drugs. All patients receive follow up treatment which usually includes supportive care, such as intravenous nutrition and oral antibiotic treatment.

In general, the indications for treatment are: declining hemoglobin or platelet count, progression to advance stages of the disease, painful and disease related over-growth of lymph nodes or spleen, lymphocyte doubling time (an indicator of lymphocyte reproduction) occuring in less than twelve months. The over all strategy is to control bone marrow and total body disease while using specific treatment for the central nervous system (CNS), when necessary. Maintenance treatments may be used to prevent re-ocurrence of the disease once remission has been accomplished. Regardless the plan or strategy, it is very important for the patient to understand the treatment that he or she is receiving and the reasons behind it.

CONCLUSION: Leukemia is a cancer of blood forming cells in the bone marrow. These cells crowd out other types of cells produced by the bone marrow, including red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout your body, and platelets, which are used to form blood clots.

Leukemia cells can spread to the lymph nodes and various other organs causing swelling and or pain and can also accumulate in the kidney, liver and spleen, causing enlargement of these organs. These cells also can affect the lungs and other parts of the body. Acute forms can occur in both children and young adults. Chronic forms usually occurs in older people, but can theoretically occur in any age group.

To date there is no single known cause that covers all of the different types of leukemia. Some studies have linked exposure to various chemicals agents, such as benzene, and hair dyes for the cause of some forms of the disease. Viruses have also been linked to other forms. Until such cause or causes are found, there is no known way to prevent the occurrence of the disease. The estimation as of 1998, is that each year, approximately 30,800 people will be diagnosed with Leukemia in the USA and about 21,700 will die of the disease.

About the Author:

Richard H. Ealom is an expert ezinearticles.com author and has written many articles on The causes and potential cures for diseases and author of this article. To find out more about Cancer please visit "Cancer Breakthrough USA!"