leukimia,what is it?

Answer 1

Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases.

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Acute vs. chronic
Leukemia is clinically and pathologically split in to its acute and chronic forms.

Acute leukemia is characterized by the rapid growth of immature blood cells. This crowding makes the bone marrow unable to produce healthy blood cells. Acute forms of leukemia can occur in children and young adults. (In fact, it is a more common cause of death for children in the US than any other type of malignant disease). Immediate treatment is required in acute leukemias due to the rapid progression and accumulation of the malignant cells, which then spill over into the bloodstream and spread to other organs of the body. If left untreated, the patient will die within months or even weeks.
Chronic leukemia is distinguished by the excessive buildup of relatively mature, but still abnormal, blood cells. Typically taking months to years to progress, the cells are produced at a much higher rate than normal cells, resulting in many abnormal white blood cells in the blood. Chronic leukemia mostly occurs in older people, but can theoretically occur in any age group. Whereas acute leukemia must be treated immediately, chronic forms are sometimes monitored for some time before treatment to ensure maximum effectiveness of therapy.
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Lymphoid vs. myeloid
Furthermore, the diseases are classified according to the type of abnormal cell found most in the blood.

When leukemia affects lymphoid cells, it is called lymphocytic leukemia.
When myeloid cells are affected, the disease is called myeloid or myelogenous leukemia.
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Prevalence of the four major types
Combining these two classifications provides a total of four main categories:

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (also know as Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) (ALL) is the most common type of leukemia in young children. This disease also affects adults, especially those age 65 and older.
Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) occurs more commonly in adults than in children. This type of leukemia was previously called acute nonlymphocytic leukemia.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) most often affects adults over the age of 55. It sometimes occurs in younger adults, but it almost never affects children.
Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) occurs mainly in adults. A very small number of children also develop this disease.
The most common forms in adults are AML and CLL, whereas in children ALL is more prevalent.

Hope this helps! =D

Answer 2

Leukemia is cancer of the blood cells. Blood cells are made by your bone marrow, which is the soft tissue in the middle of most bones. In leukemia, the bone marrow starts making too many white blood cells, and sometimes these cells don't work right. These cells keep growing when they are supposed to stop. They also grow faster than your other cells. Over time, these abnormal cells crowd out your normal white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. Your white blood cells help your body fight infection. Your red blood cells make sure all your body parts have the oxygen they need. Your platelets keep you from bleeding too much. When the leukemia cells crowd out your normal cells, your blood cannot do its job. You may bleed or bruise easily, get sick more often, and feel very tired.

Answer 3

Leukemia means, literally, "white blood." It is a type of cancer that affects bone marrow, causing an overproduction of white blood cells (and often a lack of red cells). These white cells are often poorly developed and unhealthy, so immune response is actually diminished. There are numerous online sites which go into this in far more detail than there is room for here.

Answer 4

Leukemia or leukaemia is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal proliferation of blood cells, usually white blood cells (leukocytes). It is part of the broad group of diseases called hematological neoplasms.

The exact cause of leukemia is unknown but is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Leukemias, like other cancers, result from somatic mutations in the DNA which activate oncogenes or inactivate tumour suppressor genes, and disrupt the regulation of cell death, differentiation or division. These mutations may occur spontaneously or as a result of exposure to radiation or carcinogenic substances and are likely to be influenced by genetic factors. Cohort and case control studies have linked exposure to petrochemicals, such as benzene, and hair dyes to the development of leukemia.

Viruses have also been linked to some forms of leukemia.

Answer 5

Leukimia is a type of Cancer and its in ur blood

Answer 6

leukimia is a disease in which the bone marrow in our body produces wbc's{white blood corpuscles} which instead of protecting the body from harmful bacteria attack healthy blood cells and weaken our immune system.thus the body cannot protect itself leading to subsequent death .if dygnosed early and given proper treatment,leukimia can be cured.

Answer 7

It's basically cancer of the blood. The white count explodes and you die because your blood has very few red cells in it by comparison. There are multiple kinds of it. Do a search. It's the Number One killer of adults in America. It's a no-joke murderer who doesn't care how rich you are, where you went to school or who you are in any way. Don't ever wish it on anybody-- not even your worst enemy.

Answer 8

Leukemia is a form of blood cell cancer. Bone marrow produces all types of blood cells ( red blood cells-carry oxygen, white blood cells-help body defend aganist invading microbes) Excess and faulty production of white blood cells called leucocytes is called leukemia.

Answer 9

i will explain it to u in simple words rarher than in scientific terms.it is asort of cancer of the blood.if u have it there is a 25% chance u will die if it is acute.there are white blood cell and red blood cells in our body in almost equal no.if white blood cells r more then there is leukemia

Answer 10

blood cancer caused by increase in white blood cells