By: Julia Aidan
Submitted: 2009-10-02 06:26:10 | Word Count: 556
The Greek words "Leukos" and "Heima" is nothing but Leukemia, which means white blood and it actually means excess of white blood cells in a human body. It is a sort of Blood Cancer or Bone Marrow Cancer which encompasses an enormously great range of health problems. During this condition, there is excess and abnormal production and growth of while blood cells. Bone Marrow helps in production of blood and is called as blood factory of the body. In Bone marrow, the blood cells divide to form new blood cells. The old blood cells are restored by new blood cells, which implies the old blood cells are worn out. But the person starts suffering from the deadly cancer if the old blood cells do not die and there is over production of blood cells as they start dividing at a faster pace. And person suffering from leukemia experience large production of white blood cells in the bone marrow called leukemia cells or leukocytes. This further results in poor immune system and weak resistance power and the person's body is unable to fight infections easily.
During the 14th or 15th century, the Greeks discovered the blood disease. But John Hughes Benett was the first person to officially discovered leukemia in 1845 in Edinburgh. Later on, in the 19th century, many European scientists found out that there were some people who suffered from abnormal and excess production of white blood cells. They called it as "weisses blut" which means white blood.
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Soon in the year 1913, leukemia was grouped into 4 main groups:
Later in the year 1970, it was found out that leukemia can be cured. In 1970s and 1980s, 70% of the people suffering from leukemia were cured which was a new ray of hope for leukemia patients. Yet people don't realize which disease they are actually suffering from and which disease are they fighting with.
Now-a-days many kids are seen suffering from leukemia and this is constantly increasing fast. The children who have a weak immune system as they are not fed with enough breast milk so they develop weak immune system. Their resistance against most of health problems is quite low and hence they are affected with this deadly cancer. Children who are breast fed properly do not fall ill and can fight against several health problems as they have a strong immune system.
The people in developing countries or industrialized nations have greater chances of developing leukemia. This is due to the fact that people in these countries are continuously exposed to harmful chemicals and smoke. They inhale dangerous gases such as benzene and formaldehyde, or contact to atomic gases and radiations, and intake of preserved and fast food which comprise dangerous preservatives which result in development of leukemia.
However, leukemia is curable, and several treatments like radiation, chemotherapy along with aminopterin, 6-mercaptopurin, 6-mercaptopurine are some of the effective treatments available today. The discovery of DNA aided to know the factors causing cancer with minute facts. Bone marrow transplant is highly effective treatment that has helped several leukemia patients. The Genetic analysis is thought the excellent future treatment for leukemia.
