It is cancer of the blood cells. It starts in the bone marrow.
Bone marrow is where blood cells are made.
When you are healthy, your bone marrow makes:
* White blood cells, which help your body fight infection.
* Red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all parts of your body.
* Platelets, which help your blood clot.
When you have leukemia, the bone marrow starts to make a lot
of abnormal white blood cells, called leukemia cells. They don't
do the work of normal white blood cells, they grow faster than
normal cells. Over time, leukemia cells can crowd out the normal
blood cells.
Causes of leukemia
The causes are not known but some things are known to
increase the risk of some kinds of leukemia. They include
* When exposed to large amounts of radiation.
* When exposed to certain chemicals such as benzene.
* When you ever had some types of chemotherapy to treat
another cancer.
* When you have Down syndrome or some other genetic
problems.
* When you smoke.
But most people who have these risk factors don't get leukemia.
Symptoms
Common symptoms include:
* Fever and night sweats.
* Headaches.
* Bruising or bleeding easily.
* Bone or joint pain.
* A swollen or painful belly from an enlarged spleen.
* Swollen lymph nodes in the armpit,neck, or groin.
* Getting a lot of infections.
* Feeling very tired or weak.
* Losing weight and not feeling hungry.
Treatment
Some doctors prefer the term"remission" to "cure," because
there is a chance the cancer could come back.
It includes:
* Chemotherapy.
* Radiation.
* Stem cell transplant.
*Biological therapy. This is the use of special medicines that
improve your body's natural defenses against cancer.
Some treatments for leukemia can cause side effects. Your
doctor can tell you what problems are common and help you
find ways to manage them.
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