Leukaemia is a disease of the bone marrow and blood that is
known to affect normal blood cell production. Normal blood cells have a limited
period of life and they need to be constantly replaced by fresh, young cells to
carry on their activity. There is a type of cell within the bone marrow (stem
cell) that matures into the type of blood cells that the body needs. In normal
condition, these stem cells develop either into red blood cells, white blood
cells or platelets, into a controlled way. Leukaemia perturbs the normal
development of blood cells and causes the accumulation of partially developed
cells, that aren't able to fulfil their role inside the organism.
Judging by the speed of development and the persistence of
the disorder, there are two types of leukaemia: acute leukaemia and chronic leukaemia.
Judging by the types of stem cells affected by the disorder, leukaemia can
either be lymphocytic or myelogenous.
Acute leukaemia differs from chronic leukaemia 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).
Inside the body of people who suffer from acute leukaemia of
myelogenous, the bone marrow produces stem cells which form a kind of partially
matured white blood cell called myeloblast. This type of blood cell doesn't
reach a full maturity state and can’t carry out its intended role. Myelogenous
cells tend to multiply very fast and exceed the numbers of healthy blood cells,
facilitating the occurrence of anaemia, infections and weakening the immune
system of the body. The diseased cells can also spread to other places of the
organism, such as organs.
As statistics indicate, there are lots of annual cases of
the disease, acute leukaemia of myelogenous form being the most common type of leukaemia.
Although the disease is known to regress quickly when the appropriate treatment
is administered, if left untreated it may cause the death of the affected person.
This form of leukaemia tends to recidivate and it can redevelop with time.
Regardless of age and sex, many people are diagnosed with
forms of leukaemia. Children tend to respond better to some types of leukaemia,
while adults difficultly cope with the disease. The cases of acute leukaemia
exceed those of chronic leukaemia by approximately 10 percent. Older adults
seem to be affected the most by acute leukaemia. Around two thirds of acute leukaemia
cases seem to occur after the age of 60. Leukaemia is a serious form of cancer
and it needs immediate treatment. If treated correctly, especially in its
incipient stages, leukaemia can be successfully overcome.
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