| All of the different "types" of cancer can be deadly, | | | | helping it. |
| that's a given. Even though survival rates tend to be | | | | It is common for a leukemia sufferer to become |
| much higher nowadays than they were perhaps | | | | anemic, and to lose weight, because the cancerous |
| twenty years ago, the fact is that a diagnosis of | | | | cells are unable to adequately the hemoglobin, the |
| cancer can still be a death sentence and this is | | | | body's chief source of iron. |
| especially so when it affects the most vital | | | | As 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 category | | | | vulnerable, because the infected blood tends to |
| is cancer of the blood, more commonly known as | | | | cause 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 important | | | | Exposure 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 the | | | | Downs 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 vital | | | | hydro-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 over | | | | abnormal cells are easily detected under the |
| estimated. | | | | microscope, and a timely bone marrow examination |
| So, the most dangerous feature of leukemia is that is | | | | should confirm these microscopic tests. |
| attacks the blood which then has access to all of the | | | | Chemotherapy, 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 are | | | | the cancerous cells, although any patient undergoing |
| spread throughout the body by the very blood that | | | | such treatment should be prepared to have to ingest |
| is normally the key to good health, in a leukemia | | | | an unholy alliance of chemicals that he (or she) needs |
| sufferer. | | | | to take. |
| To take this analogy one stage further, blood cancer | | | | Similarly, radiotherapy can be effective also, with |
| specifically targets the leukocytes or the "white blood | | | | various unpleasant side effects, such as hair loss and |
| corpuscles" of the blood, which are the very ones | | | | poor skin quality whilst undergoing treatment. |
| that usually protect the body from external | | | | Although it is undoubtedly one of the most deadly |
| infections. Thus, the body's immunity from, or | | | | forms of cancer, leukemia is nevertheless treatable |
| resistance to, external infections is dramatically | | | | and indeed curable, and extensive research into more |
| reduced in a leukemia sufferer. Such blood cancer | | | | effective treatment is a constantly ongoing fact. |
| causes the body to produce infected and abnormal | | | | Methods like a bone marrow transplant, which may |
| cells that hinder the function of blood (i.e. the | | | | be required at a later stage, are also effective in |
| transport of oxygen around the body) rather than | | | | treating the patient. |