Essay, Research Paper: Leukemia

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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