Leukemia

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Leukemia

Leukemia is a disease that affects blood-forming tissues,

mainly bone marrow. Leukemia also affects the lymph glands

and spleen. Leukemia causes the body to produce an extreme

amount of abnormal white blood cells. This causes

infections because the abnormal cells cannot stop

infections like the normal cells do. Leukemia also causes

anemia. Anemia is a disease in which the body makes less

blood cells. This happens because the leukemic cells crowd

the system. Leukemia also causes excessive bleeding. This

happens because the amount of platelets will decrease and

clotting will not occur,

Researchers think a change in genetic structure causes

leukemia. Changes in gene structure could be caused by

environmental problems. Some of these problems could be:

birth defects, radiation, viruses, and chemicals. Leukemia

is not inherited and is not contagious.

There are two major types of Leukemia, Lymphocytic and

Granulocytic. In Lymphocytic Leukemia white blood cells

known as Lymphocytes, which are made in the Lymph glands

and bone marrow are abnormal or immature. In Granulocytic

Leukemia this causes an increase in white blood cells known

as granulocytes. Granulocytes are made in the bone marrow,

and other tissue. Granulocytes that are affected by

leukemia cannot fight of infections.

There are two ways in which leukemia can occur. One is

acute, and the other is chronic. Acute leukemia is found

most in children. It progresses r...

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