Leukemia Symptoms

Leukemia Symptoms
By Jennifer Bailey

Leukemia is one of the most dangerous types of cancer because it affects the blood, which has a number of very important functions such as transporting oxygen to the different organs to the body.

Given this, there has been considerable research on the disease, which includes research in formulating treatments and in the early detection of symptoms.

The current literature on leukemia presents a number of symptoms that can be detected on initial examination and symptoms that can be seen after more thorough tests. Presented below is some of the literature with regard to these symptoms.

Initial signs and symptoms

Medical research has characterized the initial signs and symptoms of leukemia as nonspecific and vague. This is because some symptoms can be found in non-cancer patients as well.

However, researchers have identified some general features among the symptoms of people with leukemia: abnormal bleeding, weight loss, fatigue, malaise (nonspecific feeling of bodily discomfort), excessive bruising (hematoma), weakness, bone or joint pain, abdominal pain, infections and fever, enlarged spleen lymph nodes and liver, and a reduced tolerance for exercise.

However, there are cases wherein people with leukemia exhibit no symptoms or are asymptomatic until the disease becomes chronic.

The other symptoms of leukemia also include the symptoms that different organs may exhibit as a result of the cancer cells being deposited in the organ due to the leukemia.

Further testing

Once leukemia is suspected, physicians often recommend further testing for confirmation purposes. For leukemia, the most common test is a blood test, wherein any abnormalities related to leukemia can be seen.

One of these abnormalities is anemia, which means that the blood has very low levels of erythrocytes or red blood cells; unusual paleness of the patient and a certain level of respiratory difficulty often characterize this condition.

Another abnormality is Leukopenia, which means that the blood has very low levels of leukocytes or white blood cells, which increases the risk of infection in the patient.Other abnormalities include Neutropenia, Thrombocytopenia, and Thrombocytosis.

There has been considerable research on leukemia because it is considered one of the most dangerous forms of cancer.

Given this, a huge body of literature on its treatment and its symptoms has been created. As a result of this, people can now get more information on its symptoms, which can help them detect these symptoms early, which is the key to effectively treating cancers such as leukemia.

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Understanding Chronic Leukemia

Understanding Chronic Leukemia

Leukemia is a disease of the blood and bone marrow that occurs on the background of genetic predispositions to cancer. Leukemia affects the cellular process of maturation, causing the accumulation of immature blood cells in the spinal marrow and bloodstream.

In some cases leukemia causes the incomplete cells to multiply very quickly, while in other cases the abnormal blood cells have prolonged periods of life and persist in different places inside the body. Incomplete blood cells can’t substitute for normal blood cells, as they can’t carry out their roles. The cells affected by leukemia are therefore incompatible with the organism and can cause serious damage.

Judging by the speed of development and the persistence of the disorder, there are two types of leukemia: acute leukemia and chronic leukemia. Judging by the types of stem cells affected by the disorder, leukemia can either be lymphocytic or myelogenous.

Acute leukemia is different from chronic leukemia by the levels that stem cells are able to reach in their development (stem cells that present anomalies still manage to partially develop and either resemble immature cells or complete, normal white blood cells).

Acute leukemia is a form of cancer that develops very rapidly. It is manifested through overpopulation of the blood with immature cells that are unable to fulfill the functions of normal blood cells. In the case of acute leukemia, the marrow is unable to produce normal quantities of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

Patients who suffer from leukemia also develop anemia, a deficiency of normal red blood cells. Also, a decreased number of white blood cells reduces the body’s ability of overcoming infections, while the lack of platelets facilitates inflammation and bleeding.

Chronic leukemia tends to develop slower than acute leukemia. In the case of chronic leukemia, the body is able to produce blood cells that are more mature than those produced in acute leukemia. Although these cells may appear incomplete, they can’t fulfill their roles inside the organism and tend to cluster at different levels of the body. They also have a longer period of life.

Chronic leukemia of lymphocytic form is known to affect a type of blood cell called B lymphocyte. The disease weakens the immune system, interferes in the normal activity of the spinal marrow and facilitates the access of harmful cells to body organs. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia first occurs at the levels of the bone marrow, but can quickly spread to different organs and tissue through the bloodstream.

The presence of chronic lymphocytic leukemia is usually revealed by blood tests and careful body examination. Although apparently some people may have no symptoms of the disease, other patients may experience fatigue, lack of concentration, poor balance, memory loss, deterioration of vision and hearing, vertigos, body weakness, joint and bone pains.

Just like in other forms of the disease, chronic leukemia requires immediate specific treatment and therapy. The chances of fully overcoming the disease are considerably enhanced if it is discovered quickly.

By: Groshan Fabiola

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The General Aspects of Leukemia

The General Aspects of Leukemia
By Groshan Fabiola

Many people suffer from leukemia these days. A large number of cases of cancer are identified to be leukemia. Leukemia is a sort of cancer of the blood and marrow. The disease is characterized through the overproducing of immature blood cells (stem cells) that aren’t able to fully develop and to carry out the activities of normal blood cells.

According to their functions and structure, there are three different types of cells within the normal blood: red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Through the process of hematopoiesis, these three types of blood cells are developed from a distinctive type of blood cell called stem cell. Stem cells divide and go through several stages of development to finally form a mature blood cell of a particular type, with a certain, distinctive function in the body. The process through which a stem cell morphs into a mature blood cell takes place within the bone marrow.

According to the speed of development and the persistence of the disorder, there are two types of leukemia: acute leukemia and chronic leukemia. Acute leukemia is known to develop very rapidly, while chronic leukemia is developed slowly. According to the types of blood cells affected by the disease, leukemia can either be lymphocytic or myelogenous.

Lymphocytic and myelogenous types of leukemia are developed from different types of cells: the lymphocytic type of leukemia develops from cells called lymphoblasts or lymphocytes in the spongious tissue of the bones, while the myelogenous type of leukemia (sometimes refered to as myeloid and myelocytic leukemia) develops from myeloid cells.

In the case of acute forms of leukemia, the abnormal cells come from early, immature cells. Such forms of the disorder have a very fast rate of development, due to the fact that normal stem cells tend to multiply frequently. Leukemia cells usually don’t divide faster and more frequently than normal stem cells, they simply don’t stop their process of division when they should. Sometimes the numbers of white blood cells are very high, while in other cases they can be normal or low.

Chronic leukemia, apart from its slow development, is different from acute leukemia by the level of maturation that the diseased cells are able to reach. Stem cells affected by chronic leukemia reach a higher level of maturation but they present abnormalities and they can’t act as healthy white blood cells do. Unlike acute leukemia, in the chronic form of the disease the unhealthy cells have much longer periods of life and they tend to accumulate in different parts of the body.

Leukemia affects people of all age groups. While children usually respond better to the treatment for leukemia and sometimes deal well with the disease, adults difficultly cope with this form of cancer.

Regardless of age and sex, many people are diagnosed with forms of leukemia. Children tend to respond better to some types of leukemia, while adults difficultly cope with the disease. The cases of acute leukemia exceed those of chronic leukemia by approximately 10 percent. Older adults seem to be affected the most by acute leukemia. Around two thirds of acute leukemia cases seem to occur after the age of 60.

How To Treat Leukemia

How To Treat Leukemia

Treating leukemia can be a complex and difficult task. Certain factors must be taken in to calculation if a proper treatment is to be administered and to take affect. The treatment varies from person to person depending on their state of health, immune system and many other facts. Also the appropriate treatment must chosen for each type of leukemia. Other factors like the severity of the disease or precedent treatments must also be taken in to consideration.

The best of ways in witch to treat leukemia is under medical supervision preferable at a specialized location or treatment center. Doctors should take immediate action if this is not possible, the treatment of the patient being of the utmost importance. General info and new updated treatments can also be found if one contacts the Cancer Information Service.

In the case of acute leukemia help is required right away, a remission of the disease being needed if the patient is to ever improve. The fact is that acute leukemia can be cured; in order to be shore about it more therapy is needed if a come back is to be avoided.

In chronic leukemia ( where symptoms in patients are a whole lot milder) immediate e treatment is not always needed, although it would be wise to have regular check ups with the doctor. Giving a proper treatment and giving it on time would certainly control the symptoms of the disease and of course the disease its self. The sad thing about chronic leukemia is that unlike acute leukemia it can be seldom be cured.

Families are advised to know and find out the best they can about the disease in order to understand it and play an active role along side doctors in treating and curing it. Clinical trials are available and can be taken in order to improve the treatment of cancer in people. Finding out that a person has this awful disease is always a shock to ones family, stress naturally being the next thing to happen. Being overwhelmed by this feeling the patient can find it difficult to ask the proper questions or to remember everything that a doctor tell or advice him. The best thing to do in this situations is to calm down and properly think of the actions and steps that must be taken in order to fight the disease.

Most often certain questions are asked by the patients. What type of leukemia it is their dealing with and what the treatment may be are some of the more frequent asked. What the benefits and also the side effects would be if a certain treatment were to be applied.

For all this questions the doctor would be the most appropriate person to ask.

By: Groshan Fabiola

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New Discoveries In Leukemia Treatments

New Discoveries In Leukemia Treatments

Scientists and doctors, with the help of modern technology and state of the art technical equipment, have succeeded in finding somewhat of a cure for leukemia. Pharmaceutical companies have come up with Gleevec, a promising new oral treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia suffering patients. This type of cancer is one of the rarest and most life-threatening forms known to affect humans. After three month of testing the Food and Drug Administration have announced the approval of this new medicine, in order to better fight leukemia.

People all over the world are now able to receive this life saving treatment that is a culmination of many years of work, and thousand of hours of lab testing. Great investments have been made in order for people with leukemia to now be able to live a better life. This whole collaboration between medicine and different institutions is a testament to the marvelous and groundbreaking scientific research done by people in labs across over the world. Everyone is lending a hand and trying to fight this horrible disease that has greatly affected man kind.

The new program instituted be the Food and Drug Administration allows the accelerated approval of drugs in order to faster and better fight life-threatening illnesses. Clinical trials done prior to the approval of the drug have established that the drug has a serious effect on the disease, significantly reducing the level of cancerous cells in the bone marrow and the blood of treated patients.

Although long term effects of the drug have not yet been properly studied, results show that Gleevec has a significant improvement on the patient that is suffering from leukemia. Clinical benefit are still to be completely proven, and that is why further tests and studies are needed. The effect on the early stages of the disease will most certainly have to be studied in order to see a real chance of survival in patients. Side effects have still to be discovered and properly evaluated. On-going studies are trying to find as we speak if side effects do exist and if they do are they serious enough to pose a threat to persons suffering from leukemia.

The new Gleevec actually works as an inhibitor of the translocation- created enzyme. This way the drug is actually able to block the rapid growth of the large amount of white blood cells present in the blood of the human.

By: Groshan Fabiola

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Helpful Facts To Understand What Is Leukemia

Helpful Facts To Understand What Is Leukemia

Being a cancer of the blood cells, leukemia has several types, classified depending on how quickly they progress and what cells they affect.We can mention the role of normal blood cells. White blood cells are fighting against the infections, red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body and return carbon dioxide to the lungs as waste but also give the red color to the blood, and platelets form clots to control bleeding. The blood also contains a fluid called plasma.

The bone marrow, which is a spongy area located in the center of bones is responsible with the producing of these products. The bone marrow contains some cells called blasts, which are not yet mature, but when they become mature, they move into the circulating blood.In leukemia, one blood cell goes awry, and the body produces large amounts of this cell. These abnormal, non-functional cells will leave too little space for healthy cells. The symptoms of leukemia are being caused by this imbalance of healthy and unhealthy cells.

Leukemias can be acute or chronic. The white blood cells multiple very quickly and are very immature in acute leukemia, blood fills with blasts quickly and symptoms appear.In chronic leukemia, fewer symptoms appear, because the blasts form more slowly, and the body also produces functional cells. Chronic leukemia may cause the spleen to become enlarged so it can be felt by the doctor during a routine physical, and then further investigation will be performed.

Depending on which type of white blood cell is affected (lymphoid cells or myeloid cells), leukemias can be divided in types called lymphocytic leukemia and myelogenous leukemia.Acute lymphocytic leukemia is the most common type in children, but it is also seen in adults older than 65, and acute myeloid leukemia appears in both children and adults.Chronic lymphocytic leukemia occurs often in people over age 55, sometimes affects younger adults and almost never children, and in what concerns chronic myelogenous leukemia, it appears mostly in adults.

The exact causes of leukemia are not known but it was seen that exposure to high-energy radiation and working with the chemical benzene over a long period of time, can lead to it but also some genetic syndromes, such as Down's syndrome, put a person at higher risk.Although it was not proved, there are scientists that believe that persons exposed to electromagnetic fields are at a greater risk as well.In order to determine if a person has leukemia, the doctor will perform a blood count.

In this way, there will appear if there is an abnormally low or high number of white blood cells.Patients with leukemia may develop fevers or infections that won't go away; there can also appear anemia, which will cause the patient to feel tired or appear pale.In chronic leukemia symptoms may not appear for some time, and may be mild. Some common symptoms are fever, chills, weakness and fatigue, easy bleeding or bruising, swollen or bleeding gums, swollen or tender lymph nodes, liver or spleen.In acute leukemia there can also appear headaches, vomiting, confusion, or seizures.

For performing the diagnose, the doctor will ask about medical history and conduct a physical exam. If abnormalities such as enlarged spleen, liver or lymph nodes are detected, further investigation is needed. A complete blood count must be performed, and this test will confirm leukemia. In order to determine the type of leukemia, the physician will take a sample of the bone marrow and examine it under a microscope. The doctor may also want to perform a lumbar puncture to determine if leukemia cells have entered the spinal cord.

It is recommended that patients receive treatment at a medical center that is experienced in treating the disease. The target of the therapy is to induce a remission.Acute leukemia must be treated immediately, but chronic leukemia may not need to be treated right away (depending on the symptoms).After therapy has induced a remission, it is needed frequent monitoring of blood cell counts, to watch for relapse. Patients who have a remission that lasts five years are generally considered cured.

By: Groshan Fabiola

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Protein Research Used In Leukemia Treatment

Protein Research Used In Leukemia Treatment

Leukemia is known as a type of cancer that attacks the blood. A recent discovered protein is believed to provide insights into the details of the interaction between sperm and egg. Its structure is believed to hold the key to new treatments for the earlier mentioned condition, leukemia. This protein structure was discovered by C.D. Stout at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California.

Their research has proved the connection between a protein in the eggs of a marine mollusk and the protein on the outside of human white blood cells.

The egg protein was from the California sea snail named Aplysia californica, an animal that is frequently used by biologists in the process of fertilization. As we know, events occur at the molecular level when a sperm cell joins with an egg but these events are similar to those that are seen among the animals and humans too. The premier event that occurs is that a flood of calcium ions is released as a signal for the egg to begin to divide. The flood of the calcium ions is known to be controlled by a regulatory molecule, some kind of molecular switch, termed as a secondary messenger.

The mentioned secondary messenger is synthesized inside the egg from the building blocks of DNA. It is known that the reaction requires a specialized protein known as ADP ribosyl cyclase. This is the protein that we were talking about in the beginning of our article. ADP ribosyl cyclase is the protein that was studied by the researchers at the Scripps. A three dimensional image was reconstructed after preparing the crystals of the protein and after scattering x-rays off them. The image reveals that two of the molecules combine together to create a hole or a molecular cavity between the proteins. In these holes or cavities, the protein traps the DNA building blocks and rearranges their pattern of chemical bonds to synthesize the messenger.

In leukemia patients the white blood cells have a signaling protein called CD38 that for normal cells is present only in the early stages of the condition. It was noticed that molecule CD38 is similar to the cyclase protein that we discussed about earlier and that is why researchers think that CD38 molecules also pair up to create an internal cavity. The main difference between the cyclase and CD38 protein is that CD38 has a tail reaching across the cell membrane providing a means for it to transmit signals to inside the white cells.

Researchers do hope that drugs targeted toward the cavity in CD#* could be useful in allowing the immune system to eliminate leukemia cells.

By: Groshan Fabiola

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Use Of Cord Blood To Cure Leukemia

Use Of Cord Blood To Cure Leukemia

A three-year-old leukemia victim was given a life-saving infusion of her own cord blood, marking the first time a child with this disease served as their own blood donor, American doctors said.

The little girl is now a thriving six-year-old -- a tribute, say her doctors, to the pioneering transplant that helped her recover from radical chemotherapy.

They also commended the foresight of her parents who decided to save some of her umbilical cord on the off chance it might be needed later.

"There's a good chance the procedure saved her life. She is in remission and has an excellent chance of being cured," said Ammar Hayani, the pediatric oncologist who treated the youngster at Advocate Hope Children's Hospital in Oak Lawn, Ill.

In 2003, the little girl was diagnosed with the most common childhood cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and began long-term chemotherapy treatment.

She quickly went into remission, but 10 months later the cancer was back, and this time it had spread to her spine, a worrying development that signaled the leukemia was a particularly aggressive kind that would probably not respond well to treatment, Hayani said.

Her doctors responded with a more aggressive chemotherapy protocol and full-body radiation, and then looked around for ways to replace the blood system they had wiped out.

Ordinarily they would have had to choose between a blood or bone marrow transplant from a family member or unrelated donor, but in this case, the family members were not a match.

And rather than use material from an unrelated donor, with the corresponding risk of life-long complications, they opted to take the controversial and risky step of transplanting the girl's own cord blood, which had been frozen and stored at a private blood bank several years following her birth in 1999.

"We were in unchartered territory," said Hayani. "We couldn't predict with any certainty whether the operation would be successful. We had no concrete data, but the parents felt very comfortable with it, so we went ahead."

The procedure was not without risk, because even though the cord blood was screened to ensure it did not contain any cancerous cells, the screening techniques are not 100 percent accurate, Hayani explained.

Still, the child's parents weighed the risks and gambled that their daughter's own stem cells, contained in her cord blood, would benefit her more than stem cells harvested from the bone marrow or blood of strangers.

The results so far suggest they made the right call, said Hayani who reported on the girl's case in a paper that appears in the January issue of the journal Pediatrics.

"It's hard to argue with success. Relapse seems very unlikely at this point, and she has an excellent quality of life, much better than if she had taken stem cells from a donor."

By: Kerwin A. Chang

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Complete Information On Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Complete Information On Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

The chronic lymphocytic leukemia is the type leukemia. The leukemia either the leukemia are the blood or the marrow cancer and for the unusual proliferation (production description by multiplication) the blood corpuscle. The chronic lymphocytic leukemia (and called CLL) is slowly usually obtains a worse blood and the marrow disease. CLL is the secondary common type leukemia in the adult. It frequently will occur in or in the middle age later the period. It very little occurs regarding the child. Every year, about 10,,000 personally accepts the chronic lymphocytic leukemia in US to diagnose.

More people are the survival and CLL compare other type leukemia. Most people's and CLL at least 50 years old. A patient's average age has this type leukemia is 70. It is short very much is seen in a person younger ratio 40. The disease is together the Jew which drops in Russia or Eastern Europe, with is uncommon in Asia. The chronic lymphocytic leukemia cannot cause the sign or the symptom. When the symbol and the symptom are the existence at the disease early time stage, they frequently are vague and unspecific and include the fever, reduces weight, the appetite, the lethargic loss and is weary.

Perhaps a more specific symbol and the symptom emerge in a more advanced stage without the treatment chronic leukemia. These symbols and the symptom occur when the leukemic cell crowds beside suitably the function, mature blood corpuscle. The chronic lymphocytic leukemia is possible and to cause the bone ache, the joint pain, the lymph node to swell the liver and the spleen, with expansion in neck, underarm, stomach or mouse footpath. The different leukemia possibly has to the herbicide other cause exposition and the insecticide, perhaps increases the chronic lymphocytic leukemia risk.

The virus and connected with some kind of leukemia form. The Fanconi anemia and is the risk factor for the development profound myelogenous leukemia. Has early the stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia most patients (CLL) not to need any treatment when the disease is first diagnosed. The most common treatment is CLL is chemotherapy medicine fludarabine. The injection to the colony stimulates analyzes the factor which because for example the granulocyte colony stimulates (G-CSF), perhaps helps to shorten the grain of leukopenia the period cause to the induction therapy.

By: Juliet Cohen

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What Is Leukemia And Symptoms Of Leukemia

What Is Leukemia And Symptoms Of Leukemia

Leukemia is a form of cancer that begins in the blood-forming cells of the bone marrow—the soft, inner part of the bones. Leukemia, which literally means "white blood" in Greek, occurs when there is an excess of abnormal white blood cells in the blood.Known as leukocytes, these cells are so plentiful in some patients that the blood actually has a whitish tinge.

As leukemia progresses, the cancer interferes with the body's production of other types of blood cells, including red blood cells and platelets. This results in anemia (low numbers of red cells) and bleeding problems, in addition to the increased risk of infection caused by white cell abnormalities.

Causes of Leukemia

Being exposed to large amounts of radiation.
Being exposed to certain chemicals in the workplace.
Past chemotherapy or radiation for another cancer. (This is rare, and not all chemotherapies raise your leukemia risk.)

Working with chemicals like benzene or formaldehyde

These are only risk factors. Most people who have one of the risk factors do not get leukemia.
If you think your child is at risk for leukemia, talk with your doctor.

It is now known that all cancers, including leukemia, begin as a mutation in the genetic material—the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)—within certain cells. The external or internal causes of such change probably add up over a lifetime. Leukemia begins when one or more white blood cells experience DNA loss or damage. Those errors are copied and passed on to subsequent generations of cells.

There is conflicting evidence about whether electromagnetic field (EMF) is a potential risk factor for developing leukemia. Several large studies are in progress at this time to further investigate this question. EMFs are a type of energy that occurs near very high-voltage power lines.

Symptoms of Leukemia

Infection: A child with leukemia may develop an infection that doesn't respond to antibiotics, have a high fever, and become very sick. This is because of a deficiency of normal white blood cells, particularly mature granuloctyes. Although leukemia is a cancer of white blood cells and children with leukemia may have very high white blood cell counts, the leukemic cells do not protect against infection the way normal white blood cells do.

Such symptoms are not sure signs of leukemia. An infection or another problem also could cause these symptoms. Anyone with these symptoms should see a doctor as soon as possible. Only a doctor can diagnose and treat the problem.

Doctors may find chronic leukemia during a routine exam before any symptoms arise. This form of leukemia may develop over longer periods covering months or years before symptoms are apparent. When symptoms do appear, they tend to be mild and worsen gradually.

Treatment of Leukemia

Stem cell transplantation (SCT) to enable treatment with high doses of chemotherapy and radiation therapy; and
Surgery to remove an enlarged spleen or to install a venous access device (large plastic tube) to give medications and withdraw blood samples.

Radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses X-rays or other high-energy rays to damage leukemia cells and stop their growth. You may receive radiation in one specific area of your body where there is a collection of leukemia cells, or you may receive radiation directed at your whole body.

Leukemia patients often find it helpful to take a family member or close friend along to these consultations in order to take notes and assist in remembering some of the points of the discussion. For children with leukemia, such is always the case.

By: samnickel7

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Signs, Symptoms And Treatment Of Feline Leukemia

Signs, Symptoms And Treatment Of Feline Leukemia

Feline Leukemia is a serious disease that occurs in cats. It is very difficult to watch your cat succumb to this terrible disease? While this is a very real threat, it is important to know that it is one you can treat. Arm yourself with information and take the steps to see that your pets are protected.

Feline Leukemia is actually a virus, not a cancer. It is in the retrovirus family and is more closely related to FIV and HIV than it is any form of Leukemia. The virus works by attacking the immune system of its host. Therefore, your pet becomes susceptible to a variety of diseases that would not other wise be a problem. One of the first diseases associated with the virus was a form of Leukemia. By the time the mistake was sorted out, the name had already stuck.

Feline Leukemia is spread through bodily fluids. This means every thing from saliva and tears to urine and feces. Cats most commonly contract the disease through their habit of grooming one another. It is also possible for kittens to become infected by their mothers. This can happen either before birth or while the infant is nursing. Outdoor cats are at a higher risk for feline leukemia. Also, this disease can only survive in felines. This means that your cat is the only one affected by this disease. Other pets and family members are not at risk.

Signs and symptoms of Feline Leukemia can include depression, increased drinking and urination, sudden weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, diarrhea, constipation, and respiratory distress. If your cat starts to exhibit some or all of these symptoms it is a good idea to call the vet. Whether or not it turns out to be Feline Leukemia you vet is going to want to take a look.

There is a simple blood test to tell you whether or not your pet is infected and has feline leukemia. If the test comes back positive then you will need to test again in about 12 weeks. Some cats are able to fight of the infection on their own. If this is the case then your re-test will be negative. However, if the second test is positive as well, then your cat has Feline Leukemia. Once this is confirmed you and your doctor will decide on a course of treatment of feline leukemia. But you must always treat the animal as if they were contagious. This includes isolating them from any other cats, and changing all food and water bowls as well as setting up a new litter box.
In addition to conventional treatments of feline leukemia(which are often effective although extremely harsh) there are a number of alternative treatments of feline leukemia which have proved extremely helpful in treating cancer in pets, including acupuncture, aromatherapy and homeopathy. The natural and alternative treatment of feline leukemia has become increasingly popular.
If your cat should succumb to Feline Leukemia, you need to wait about a month before bringing in a new cat. You also need to buy new food and water dishes and a new litter box. The chances of your new pet contracting the disease from these items are very slim, but it is better to be safe.

Feline Leukemia is a horrible disease for both the owner and the pet. As a part of prevention have your cats vaccinated at a young age. Studies show that kittens under 4 months of age are much more susceptible to the virus than older cats. So keep those babies inside until they have time to grow up a bit. You can virtually eliminate your cats risk of infection by taking the above steps.

By: debbra sirmans

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Causes Of Leukemia

Causes Of Leukemia

Leukemia causes are still unknown. In present, medical science isn’t able to establish the specific leukemia causes. However, a strong connection between certain genetic factors and the development of the disease has been revealed. Leukemia occurs on the background of genetic failure that causes the excessive production of incomplete, partially matured blood cells. Also, leukemia has a hereditary character, allowing the transmission of genetic predispositions to disease from one generation to another. Although many factors are known to contribute to the development of leukemia, they alone can’t be considered leukemia causes.

The cause of acute leukemia is unknown. The only thing that one can say for certain is that some people are at a higher risk of getting the disease than others. People who are exposed to radiations or certain chemicals have the highest chance of contracting the disease. In addition, there is the hereditary factor. It has been seen that children receive the defective gene from their mother and this gene may lead to acute leukemia. People who have leukemia tend to bruise easily or bleed easily from the nose and gums. In addition to weak immune system, there is a general feeling of fatigue and unexplained weight loss. The disease by itself does not have any specific symptoms.

In normal condition, these stem cells develop either into red blood cells, white blood cells or platelets, into a controlled way. Leukemia perturbs the normal development of blood cells and causes the accumulation of partially developed cells, that aren’t able to fulfill their role inside the organism. Judging by the speed of development and the persistence of the disorder, there are two types of leukemia: acute leukemia and chronic leukemia. Acute leukemia differs from chronic leukemia by the levels that stem cells are able to reach in their development (stem cells that present anomalies still manage to partially develop and either resemble immature cells or complete, normal white blood cells).

Leukemia is a bone marrow disorder that arises when one abnormal white blood cell begins to continuously replicate itself. Leukemia, which literally means "white blood" in Greek, occurs when there is an excess of abnormal white blood cells in the blood. The disease usually starts in the white blood cells. The blood-forming (hematopoietic) cells of the bone marrow make leukocytes to defend the body against infectious organisms, such as viruses and bacteria. If the cells reach the central nervous system and build up in the cerebrospinal fluid that support s the brain and spinal column, they can cause headaches and seizures.

Chances of survival are better with the combination of ATRA and hemotherapy than chemotherapy alone. This is because ATRA combined with chemotherapy accounts for a slightly higher rate of complete remissions while allowing significantly fewer relapses. Maintenance cure with ATRA, and possibly with low-dose chemotherapy, further reduces the occurrence of relapse. The advent of ATRA therapy has revolutionized the treatment of promyelocytic leukemia and clearly enhanced the prognosis.

A certain cause of Leukemia is not yet known as it can affect persons of all ages and both sexes. A link however between leukemia and benzene prolonged exposure or high doses of radiations could be established. But most cases cannot be rationally explained. The main target of the Leukemia treatment is to annihilate all existing abnormal cells in blood and bone marrow. A complete remission means no left trace of cancerous modifications. Some of the treated cases show a reoccurrence of the disease with other signs and symptoms.

By: greenherbal

Information About Leukemia

Information About Leukemia

Leukemia is a disease that is considered to be life-threatening. It requires prompt intervention when discovered, in order to maximize the chances of recovering through specific treatment and therapy. Leukemia is basically a type of cancer of the bone marrow and blood, caused by inappropriate cellular activity. The disease can be of different forms, according to the types of blood cells that cause its development. Also, if leukemia is developing rapidly, it is called acute leukemia, while if the disease is developing slowly, it is referred to as chronic leukemia.

Leukemia is cancer that starts in the blood-forming tissue of the body, like the bone marrow. This year, it is estimated that there will be another 44,270 cases of leukemia diagnosed and about 21,700 deaths caused by it. That's too many. One is too many, but these figures are way, way down from what they were only a few years ago. There was a time when a diagnosis of leukemia was a certain death sentence; but that is no longer the case, and the numbers are improving every year. The bone marrow in people who have the disease produces abnormal white blood cells. In the beginning, they function and behave almost normally, but eventually they start to crowd out normal white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.

Studies indicate that leukemia is not inherited nor is it contagious. Several factors are suspected, although scientists have been unable to pinpoint the exact cause. No specific sets of preventions are available for leukemia. However, on analyzing the factors that generally cause leukemia a rough and general idea on the prevention of the disease can be made. Amongst newborn babies breast milk has shown properties that help in preventing occurrences of leukemia. Statistics have shown that mothers who breast-feed their babies for even one month lower their risk of leukemia by 20%. The factors that cause leukemia are numerous. Continuous exposure to high-level x-ray radiation increases susceptibility for leukemia development.

Leukemia is a dangerous form of cancer, and it affects thousands of people every year. It affects the white blood cells. The body loses control of the quantity and quality of blood cells, and it becomes very vulnerable because the white blood cells are supposed to protect our organism against infections. There are two main types of leukemia - acute leukemia and chronic leukemia. Acute leukemia is more dangerous because it spreads much faster, but chronic leukemia can be tricky because it has almost no symptoms. The first organ that is affected by chronic leukemia is the bone marrow. The bone marrow is a tissue that can be found on some of the main bones in the body and that has the role of producing blood cells (red blood cells and white blood cells).

Leukemia severely affects a person's immune system; the disease is characterized by low levels of leukocytes of white blood cells, which play an important role in the body's defenses against disease. This disease can lead to other complications such as infections. However, for people who already have compromised immune systems, such as children and the elderly, developing leukemia can have some severe effects and complications. For children, the effects of leukemia can be very pronounced because battling the disease can take a toll on their fragile bodies.

By: greenherbal

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Leukemia Causes And Risk Factors

Leukemia is a disease that is considered to be life-threatening. It requires prompt intervention when discovered, in order to maximize the chances of recovering through specific treatment and therapy. Leukemia is basically a type of cancer of the bone marrow and blood, caused by inappropriate cellular activity.

The disease can be of different forms, according to the types of blood cells that cause its development. Also, if leukemia is developing rapidly, it is called acute leukemia, while if the disease is developing slowly, it is referred to as chronic leukemia.

The direct leukemia causes are still unknown. In present, medical science isn’t able to establish the specific leukemia causes. However, a strong connection between certain genetic factors and the development of the disease has been revealed. Leukemia occurs on the background of genetic failure that causes the excessive production of incomplete, partially matured blood cells.

Also, leukemia has a hereditary character, allowing the transmission of genetic predispositions to disease from one generation to another. Although many factors are known to contribute to the development of leukemia, they alone can’t be considered leukemia causes.

Basic types of leukemia:
1. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia: It is responsible for about 7,000 new cases of leukemia each year. People diagnosed with the disease are usually over the age 55, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia almost never affects children.
2. Chronic myeloid leukemia: It is responsible for about 4,400 new cases each year. Adults are most often diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia.
3. Acute lymphocytic leukemia: It is responsible for about 3,800 new cases each year. Acute lymphocytic leukemia is the most common type of leukemia in young children, but it can also affect adults.

Promyelocytic Leukemia
Promyelocytic Leukemia a growth of the bone marrow in which there is a deficit of mature blood cells in the myeloid line of cells and a surplus of immature cells called promyelocytes. Promyelocytic leukemia is due to a translocation between chromosomes 15 and 17 which is symbolized t(15;17). This translocation is not a mere indicator of promyelocytic leukemia but the main cause. Promyelocytic leukemia generally comes under the acute form leukemia. It is also termed as acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL).
In 1957, promyelocytic leukemia was first accepted as an individual disease entity. It accounts for 5-10% of cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The peak incidence of promyelocytic leukemia is amongst young adults. Promyelocytic leukemia is thought of as a type of AML and is classified as the M3 variant of AML.

Leukemia Symptoms
Leukemia symptoms may vary depending on the type of leukemia. Some of the most common symptoms are:
- pale skin
- tiredness
- mild fever
- bruises
- shortness of breath
- thrombocytopenia
- petechiae
- bone pain
- enlarged spleen
- enlarged liver
- enlarged lymph nodes
- headache
- vomiting
- recurring infections
- Some of these leukemia symptoms also mimic those of less severe illnesses but it is always best to be checked by your doctor to determine the cause of symptoms.

By: "Rich jammes"

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