Find information on thousands of medical conditions and prescription drugs.

Leukemia

Leukemia (leukaemia in Commonwealth English) is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal proliferation of white blood cells (leukocytes). more...

Home
Diseases
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
Amyotrophic lateral...
Bardet-Biedl syndrome
Labyrinthitis
Lafora disease
Landau-Kleffner syndrome
Langer-Giedion syndrome
Laryngeal papillomatosis
Laryngomalacia
Lassa fever
LCHAD deficiency
Leber optic atrophy
Ledderhose disease
Legg-Calvé-Perthes syndrome
Legionellosis
Legionnaire's disease
Leiomyoma
Leiomyosarcoma
Leishmaniasis
Lemierre's syndrome
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
Leprechaunism
Leprophobia
Leprosy
Leptospirosis
Lesch-Nyhan syndrome
Leukemia
Leukocyte adhesion...
Leukodystrophy
Leukomalacia
Leukoplakia
LGS
Li-Fraumeni syndrome
Lichen planus
Ligyrophobia
Limb-girdle muscular...
Limnophobia
Linonophobia
Lipodystrophy
Lipoid congenital adrenal...
Liposarcoma
Lissencephaly
Lissencephaly syndrome...
Listeriosis
Liticaphobia
Liver cirrhosis
Lobster hand
Locked-In syndrome
Loiasis
Long QT Syndrome
Long QT syndrome type 1
Long QT syndrome type 2
Long QT syndrome type 3
LSA
Lung cancer
Lupus erythematosus
Lyell's syndrome
Lygophobia
Lyme disease
Lymphangioleiomyomatosis
Lymphedema
Lymphoma
Lymphosarcoma
Lysinuric protein...
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Medicines

Overview

The word leukemia refers to a group of cancers which affect the white blood cells. In the 19th century, it was seen as one single, homogenous deadly disease, characterized by a white (leuko-) appearance of blood samples. Leukemia was first recognized by the German pathologist Rudolf Virchow in 1847 and the first case was described by British pathologist John Hughes Bennett in 1845.

Leukemia arises in the bone marrow. The bone marrow produces three major types of blood cells.

  1. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin and are responsible for carrying oxygen to the body.
  2. White blood cells are responsible for fighting infection.
  3. Platelets assist with blood clotting.

Leukemia is characterised by an excessive production of abnormal white blood cells, overcrowding the bone marrow and often spilling out into the peripheral blood. The infiltration of the bone marrow results in decreased production and function of normal blood cells. Leukemia, dependent on the type, can spread to the lymph nodes, spleen, liver, central nervous system and other organs or tissues, causing the affected area to swell.

Symptoms

Damage to the bone marrow results in a lack of blood platelets, which are important in the blood clotting process. This means people with leukemia may become bruised, bleed excessively, or develop pinprick bleeds (petechiae).

White blood cells, which are involved in fighting pathogens, may be suppressed or dysfunctional, putting the patient at risk of infection.

Finally, the red blood cell deficiency leads to anemia, which may cause shortness of breath and fatigue. Bone or joint pain may occur because of cancer spreading to these areas. Headaches and vomiting are indicative of the cancer having disseminated to the central nervous system.

Enlarged lymph nodes or splenomegaly (an enlarged spleen) may occur in some types. All symptoms may also be attributable to other diseases; for diagnosis, blood tests and a bone marrow biopsy are required.

Some other related symptoms:

  • Fever, chills, and other flu-like symptoms;
  • Weakness and fatigue;
  • Loss of appetite and/or weight;
  • Swollen or bleeding gums;
  • Sweating, especially at night;
  • Bone or joint pain.
  • Neurological symptoms (headache, paralysis, seizures) due to involvement of the brain (acute leukemias)
  • Skin symptoms

Four major types

Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases.

Acute vs. chronic

Leukemia is clinically and pathologically split in to its acute and chronic forms.

Read more at Wikipedia.org


[List your site here Free!]


Leukemia fighters
From Better Nutrition, 12/1/04

Researchers are beginning to wonder if the spice turmeric, common in the Asian diet, could be the reason behind the lower rates of childhood leukemia in Asia. And they've found that oranges and bananas can reduce leukemia risk for children.

One study at Loyola University in Chicago found that curcumin--the compound that gives turmeric its yellow color--prevents leukemia cells from multiplying in human cell cultures.

Their research was presented September 9 to the Children With Leukaemia conference in London, England.

Leukemia is complex, however, and scientists do not expect to find a single cause or a single preventative. Causes of childhood leukemia appear to be the interaction of both lifestyle and environmental factors, and genetics may also play a role.

But curcumin may reduce the risk.

"Our studies show that turmeric--and its coloring principle, curcumin--in the diet mitigates the effects of some of these risk factors," says Loyola's Moolky Nagabhushan, PhD.

A second, 7-year study at the University of California looked at whether the foods consumed by children in early life affect their risk of developing leukemia.

The researches presented their findings at the same conference, announcing that regular consumption of oranges and bananas during the first 2 years of life was associated with a reduced risk of childhood leukemia.

This is in keeping with the known protective role of fruits and vegetables in preventing adult cancers. And there may be a special role for the potassium and vitamin C in these fruits.

COPYRIGHT 2004 PRIMEDIA Intertec, a PRIMEDIA Company. All Rights Reserved.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group

Return to Leukemia
Home Contact Resources Exchange Links ebay