| All of the different "types" of cancer can be | | | | become anemic, and to lose weight, because |
| deadly, that's a given. Even though survival | | | | the cancerous cells are unable to adequately |
| rates tend to be much higher nowadays than | | | | the hemoglobin, the body's chief source of |
| they were perhaps twenty years ago, the fact | | | | iron. |
| is that a diagnosis of cancer can still be a | | | | |
| death sentence and this is especially so when | | | | As a consequence, the blood cancer patient |
| it affects the most vital components of the | | | | tends to lose all vitality and energy, and |
| body. | | | | becomes especially vulnerable, because the |
| | | | infected blood tends to cause the brain to |
| One such type of cancer that falls into this | | | | start to malfunction to some extent. |
| category is cancer of the blood, more | | | | |
| commonly known as leukemia. Many people may | | | | Exposure to raised levels of radiation is a |
| not think of it this way, but, in simple | | | | prime proven cause of leukemia. Likewise, |
| terms, blood is the most important tissue of | | | | children born with Downs Syndrome have a |
| the body. | | | | raised probability of suffering blood cancer, |
| | | | and benzene (an industrial hydro-carbon) is |
| It is effectively the conduit that connects | | | | also cited as a cause. |
| all the other organs and tissues of the body | | | | |
| together, carrying and supplying oxygen and | | | | However, the slightly better news is that the |
| other vital elements to even the remotest | | | | abnormal cells are easily detected under the |
| parts of the body. Bloods importance to the | | | | microscope, and a timely bone marrow |
| body cannot be over estimated. | | | | examination should confirm these microscopic |
| | | | tests. |
| So, the most dangerous feature of leukemia is | | | | |
| that is attacks the blood which then has | | | | Chemotherapy, whilst it can be extremely |
| access to all of the bodies other organs, | | | | painful, is nevertheless still the most |
| including the all brain, heart, kidneys and | | | | effective method of killing the cancerous |
| liver. Thus, the cancerous cells are spread | | | | cells, although any patient undergoing such |
| throughout the body by the very blood that is | | | | treatment should be prepared to have to |
| normally the key to good health, in a | | | | ingest an unholy alliance of chemicals that |
| leukemia sufferer. | | | | he (or she) needs to take. |
| | | | |
| To take this analogy one stage further, blood | | | | Similarly, radiotherapy can be effective |
| cancer specifically targets the leukocytes or | | | | also, with various unpleasant side effects, |
| the "white blood corpuscles" of the blood, | | | | such as hair loss and poor skin quality |
| which are the very ones that usually protect | | | | whilst undergoing treatment. |
| the body from external infections. Thus, the | | | | |
| body's immunity from, or resistance to, | | | | Although it is undoubtedly one of the most |
| external infections is dramatically reduced | | | | deadly forms of cancer, leukemia is |
| in a leukemia sufferer. Such blood cancer | | | | nevertheless treatable and indeed curable, |
| causes the body to produce infected and | | | | and extensive research into more effective |
| abnormal cells that hinder the function of | | | | treatment is a constantly ongoing fact. |
| blood (i.e. the transport of oxygen around | | | | |
| the body) rather than helping it. | | | | Methods like a bone marrow transplant, which |
| | | | may be required at a later stage, are also |
| It is common for a leukemia sufferer to | | | | effective in treating the patient. |