Leukemia 101: What You Need to Know About

Cancer in any form is a deadly disease. But when itcommonly seen to occur as an attachment to this
affects the most vital components of the body thendeadly disease.
their fatality increases manifold. One such type ofThe people living in areas prone to radioactive waste
cancer is cancer of the blood, technically known asdisposal and activity are most common targets of
leukemia. Blood is the most important tissue of theleukemia. Overexposure to radioactivity causes the
body. It is the connective tissue which carries andcells to mutate and function abnormally. The children
supplies oxygen and other vital elements to thewho are diagnosed with Down syndrome have a high
remotest parts of the body. The importance ofprobability to develop leukemia. Over exposure to
blood can be understood by the fact that it is theBenzene, the industrially important hydrocarbon is also
most important of all the connective tissues whicha known cause of blood cancer. The abnormal cells
provide the nutrients and other vital elements to theare easily detected under the microscope. Thus the
body.doctor suspicious of such a disease advises the
The most dangerous feature of leukemia is that it ispatient for a bone marrow examination. The onset
related to the blood which has access to almost allcan be detected by the swollen lymph nodes of the
body organs including the all important brain and heart.body which are commonly found in armpits, around
The incidence of cancerous cells being carried to thethe neck and at the thigh.
different parts of the body increases drastically dueChemotherapy is the most effective but a very
to this fact. Another striking aspect of the bloodpainful way of killing the cancerous cells. The patient
cancer is that it affects the leukocytes or the "whiteis subjected to drugs orally. The patient undergoes
blood corpuscles" of the blood. These are the onestremendous pressure as he is injected with lot many
that protect the body from external infections. Thuschemicals at a time. Another treatment is through the
the immunity of the body is seen to decreaseradiation. It is also very treacherous way of getting
drastically due to leukemia. The main effect of thetreated. The patients are seen to loose hair and
disease is that the body starts producing infectedtexture of skin.
and abnormal cells that hinder the function of bloodLeukemia though very dangerous is still curable and
i.e. carrying of oxygen.the research in the field is also being done on an
A patient suffering from leukemia is seen to looseextensive basis. Proper treatment at the right time
weight due to anemia. This happens because thecan prevent the reflux of this disease. Methods like
cancerous cells are unable to carry the hemoglobinbone marrow transplant, which may be required at a
properly which is the chief source of iron to thelater stage, are also effective in treating the patient.
body. And due to that the body looses all vitality.Above all to over come with the disease a person
The situation of the patient becomes vulnerableneeds to be loved and supported by all. Leukemia is
because the brain also starts to dysfunction due tofatal disease but life is mightier then it.
infected blood. Headache, night sweats etc. can be