Essay, Research Paper: 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.