Blood is the life-maintaining fluid that circulates through the heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries. Because the blood performs many and complex functions, there are many disorders related to blood that require clinical care by a physician or other health care professional. These conditions include anemia, bleeding disorders, as well as cancers of the blood.

Leukemia is generally considered and known as blood cancer, where as if considered in its real terms leukemia is a cancer of the white blood cells and the platelets. These platelets actually help blood to clot. Additionally when the white blood cells reduce in amount they actually leave the immune system unlocked for attack and the patient sometimes die of a very usual illness like flu.

The leukemia is categorized in to four basic categories which are as follows:
Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)
Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)
Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

The specific cause of leukemia is unknown but inheritance plays a big role in becoming susceptible to this condition.A weakened immune system - this may be a result of drugs that suppress the immune system.Contact with a chemical called benzene, one of the chemicals in petrol and a solvent used in the rubber and plastics industry.Genetic disorders like Fanconi anemia, Schwachman-Diamond syndrome and Down syndrome can be cause of leukemia.

Studies are still ongoing as to determine the exact causes of leukemia. Medical experts think that exposure to ionizing radiations and hazardous chemicals can trigger the development of these blood cancers. Irrespective of the age, survival rate is very low. This enlists leukemia as one of the most fatal of all cancers.

Symptoms of blood cancer include tiredness, paleness and breathlessness; frequent infections; increased bruising; abnormal bleeding from cuts and gums; heavier periods in women; bone pain; swollen lymph glands; abdominal pain; and even headaches and vision problems.

Body of people suffering from leukemia sweats a lot at night. Frequent weight loss, difficulty while urinating, occurrence of fine rashes or dark spots can also be related with blood cancer. Enlarged Lymph Glands,Fever,Enlarged spleen cause enormous pain in the stomach,Bleeding from Gum, Nose and Ears due to lack of platelets in the blood stream.

As far as chronic leukemia is concerned people with CLL or CML may not have any symptoms. Some patients learn they have CLL or CML after a blood test as part of a usual checkup. Occasionally, a person with CLL may see enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, armpit or groin and go to the doctor. The person may feel exhausted or short of breath or have frequent infections, if the CLL is more severe. In these cases, a blood test may show an increase in the lymphocyte count.

Treatment of leukemia:

It usually involves intensive chemotherapy. Drugs are given as injection into veins. Other chemotherapy drugs such as fludarabine (Fludara) may be used in late stage disease. In bone marrow failure steroid treatment is given to recover the bone marrow. Chemotherapy drugs are very strong and have some side effects like fatigue, loss of hair and loss of appetite. It also kills the healthy bone marrow thus making patient weaker.

Your doctor may prescribe medications, sometimes called "growth factors," that encourage your body to produce more blood cells. Medications are also used to prevent low blood cell counts in people who have a high probability of experiencing complications of cancer treatment. Medications have benefits and risks, so talk to your doctor about the possible side effects of drugs used to boost blood cell counts.

Milder cases can be cured by regular blood transfusion. X-ray therapy (Radiation) given to infected lymph or to whole body depends on the level of the disease. In some cases bone marrow transplant can be done but this is very expensive treatment and out of the reach of a poor common man. Patient need a matching bone marrow donor as body easily rejects foreign bone marrow. Fifty to sixty percent patients live normal life after bone marrow transplant. Since this disease can occur any time again so regular monitoring is required.

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