Leukemia

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