Leukemia Essay Summary Example For Students

Leukemia Essay Summary Leukemia is a disease characterized bythe formation of abnormal numbers of white bloodcells, for which no certain cure has been found. Leukemia is also conditions characterized by thetransformation of normal blood-forming cells intoabnormal white blood cells whose unrestrainedgrowth overwhelms and replaces normal bonemarrow and blood cells. Leukemias are namedaccording to the normal cell from which theyoriginate, such as Lymphocyte Leukemia. Lymphocyte Leukemia is where a Lymphocytecell is transformed into a Leukemia cell. Anotherexample of Leukemia is Myelocytic or(Granulocytic Leukemia). This forms when aMyelocytic cell is changed or transformed into aLeukemia cell. Different Leukemias are located inthe microscope and by how much protein theycontain. These Leukemias are usually very severeand need treatment right away. The presentincidence of new cases per year in the UnitedStates is about 25 to every 100,000 persons. Thedanger to the patient lies in the growth of theseabnormal white cells, which interfere with thegrowth of the red blood cells, normal white bloodcells, and the blood platelets. The uncontrolledgrowth of the abnormal white cells produces atendency to unstop bleeding, the risk of gettingserious infection in the wounds, and a very smallpossibility of obstruction of the blood vessels. Treatment of these Leukemias includechemotherapy with alkylafing agents, orantimetabodies that suppress the growth ofabnormal white cells. Another treatment of somekind would be the x-ray or the administration orradioactive substances, or radiophosphorus, maybe used. After treatment these diseases may lastfor many years. Age of the person diagnosed withLeukemia does play an important part in how thatindividual responds to any treatment. The older theperson the less response he may have totreatment. Leukemia in Animals white blood cellsis much less common as Leukemia in humanswhite blood cells. Todays treatment mostlyincludes chemotherapy and or bone marrowtransplantation supportive care, where transfusionsof blood components and prompt treatment ofcomplicating infections, is very important. Ninetypercent of children with Acute LymphocyteLeukemia have received chemotherapy and fiftypercent of theses children have been fully cured ofLeukemia. Treatment of AML or AcuteMyeolcytic Leukemi a is not as successful but hasbeen improving more and more throughout the1990s. Scientists that study the cause ofLeukemia have not had very much success lately. Very large doses of x-rays can increase theefficacy growth of Leukemia. Chemicals such asBenzene also may increase the risk of gettingLeukemia. Scientists have tried experiments onLeukemia in Animals by transmitting RNA into thebody of the Animal. Interpretation of these resultsin relation with human Leukemia is very cautious atthis time. Studies have also suggested that familyhistory, race, genetic factors, and geography mayall play some part in determining the rates ofgrowth of these Leukemias. Stewart Alsop is anexample of Acute Myeoblastic Leukemia, orAML. On the day of July 21, 1971 Stewart wasmade aware of some of the doctors suspicionsdue to his bone marrow test. He was told by hisdoctor in Georgetown that his marrow slideslooked so unusual that he had brought in otherdoctors to view the test and they could not cometo an agreement so they all suggested that he takeanother bone marrow exam. The second test wasknown to be hypocelluar meaning that it hadvery few cells of any sort , normal of abnormal. The Georgetown doctors counted, aboutfourty-four percent of his cells were abnormal, andhe added, with a condor that he later discoveredcharacteristics. They were ugly-looking cells.Most of them looked like Acute MeyoblasticLeukemia cells, but not all some of them lookedlike the cells of another kind of Leukemia,Acatymphoblastic Leukemia, and some of themlooked like the cells of still another kind of bonemarrow cancer, not a Leukemia, it is calledDysprotinemia. And even the Myeloblastic cellsdidnt look exactly like Myeloblastic cells shouldlook. Stewart has been treated with chemotherapyand is still living today but he doesnt have verymuch longer to live. Sadako Saski was born inJapan in the year of 1943 she died twelve yearslater in the year of 1955 of Leukemia. She was inHiroshima when the United States Air Forcedropped an atomic bomb on that city in an attemptto end World War II. Sadako Saski was only twoyears old when all this had happened. Ten yearslater, Sadako had been diagnos ed with Leukemiaas a result of the radiation from the bomb. At thistime Sadako was only a twelve year old little girland she died of Leukemia. Everyday Sadakogrew weaker and weaker thinking about her deathand the day finally came. Sadako died on October25, 1955. Sadako was very much loved by all ofher classmates. At the time of death, herclassmates folded 356 paper cranes to be buriedwith her. This is a symbol in Jpan ofthoughtfulness. In summary to what I have learnedabout Leukemia it is a very painful disease. Thepeople with Leukemia suffer very much throughoutthe disease and treatment of the disease, even ifthey are eventually cured. The treatment ittook to get there was very painful. The studies ofLeukemia have helped alot of people to be curedbut there are still alot of people suffering due to nocure found to help them. Im sure like all othercures needed, the money is short funded for theresearch that cost so very much. Maybe somedaysoon, we hope, they will find a cure for al l kinds ofcancer.