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ACUTE LEUKEMIA
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ACUTE LEUKEMIA
All leukemia comes from blood cells, which normally function to provide the
body's cells with oxygen (red blood cells), protect them from invading germs
(white blood cells), and promote blood clotting after an injury (platelets).
This system usually functions beautifully, and it's proper workings are crucial
to human life. The division of these blood cells is normally under tight control.
When a cell starts dividing out of control, it becomes "cancerous."
Cancer starts in just one cell! Acute leukemias are cancers of blood cells, and are one of two basic types. The first is "Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia" (ALL) which starts in a popular type of white blood cell ("lymphocyte"), and the second is "Acute Non-Lymphocytic Leukemia" (ANLL) which includes cancers arising from every other type of blood cell besides the lymphocyte.
"Acute Myelocytic Leukemia" (AML) is the most common type in this second category. It is critical to get prompt diagnosis and proper treatment for acute leukemia; this can literally make the difference between life and death. Understanding your options will give you the peace-of-mind of knowing you have done everything possible to ensure a successful outcome for yourself or a loved one.
The Cancer Group Institute's material explains, in plain English, the definition, types, risk factors, frequency, symptoms, evaluations, historical and latest effective treatments for acute leukemia. We describe chemotherapy, radiation, immune therapy and bone marrow transplantation, along with their side-effects and results. While we don't promise cure, we tell you everything you must know to help you make the right choices today for dealing with an acute leukemia problem.
