What Is Leukemia?

2138 Words5 Pages

Leukemia is a form of cancer that starts in the stem cells of the bone marrow that make blood cells. A bone marrow is the material that fills the center of most bones which is where blood cells are made. Leukemia is basically a blood cancer where the cells do not form properly. Leukemia is found in blood cells and since blood cells do not have chromosomes or DNA then they cannot divide or reproduce like somatic cells do. Blood cells form in the bone marrow and when too many blood cells form in the human body then Leukemia cancer is developed. There are three different types of blood cells that increase out of control and are produced in the bone marrow which are White blood cells [leukocytes], Red blood cells [erythrocytes] and Platelets. White blood cells are part of the immune system and help fight off infections. They too aid in the curing of sores, wounds and cuts. Red blood cells hold haemoglobin which carries oxygen and takes out carbon dioxide to and from the cells throughout different organs of the body. Platelets help poke holes in the blood vessels and form clots just as blood vessels are corrupted or damaged (What is Leukemia? par. 4 & 5).

When these cells in the bone marrow divide uncontrollably, they form more white blood cells than required and thus, lead to leukemia cancer. Leukemia is sometimes developed by genetic predisposition where studies researching family history look at twins who have indicated that some people have a higher risk of developing leukemia because of a single gene or multiple genes. (Silverstein 29)

Furthermore, Down syndrome is a genetic cause of Leukemia cancer. Normally, each human cell contains 23 pairs of different chromosomes. Each chromosome carries genes, which are needed for proper ...

... middle of paper ...

...es Leukemia Treatment Cost on Average?" How Much Does Leukemia Treatment Cost on Average? ChaCha Answers, 09 Feb. 2011. Web. 07 Mar. 2011. .

"Secondhand Smoke." Secondhand Smoke. USA Gov, 14 June 2007. Web. 07 Mar. 2011. .

Simmons, Jack. "Leukemia Topic Overview." Leukemia Topic Overview. Web. 07 Mar. 2011. .

"Statistics by Country for Leukemia." Statistics by Country for Leukemia. Stats 2011, 26 Jan. 2011. Web. 07 Mar. 2011. .

"What Is Leukemia?" What Is Leukemia? My Blogpost Wordpress, 31 May 2009. Web. 07 Mar. 2011. .

Show More
Related

  • How to Become a Zoologist

    2030 Words  | 5 Pages

    "Zoologist Salary - How Much Does Zoologists Make?" The Richest We Follow Money The Extraordinary Zoologist Salary How Much Does Zoologists Make Comments. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.

    Read More

  • Leukemia And Lymphoma Society Essay

    1085 Words  | 3 Pages

    Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the worlds largest non-profit organization which funds blood cancer research and providing patient services and education. The LLS mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma and myeloma and to improve quality of patients and there families. This is done by discovering new cures and making blood cancers a story of the past.The organizations national office is located in White Plains, NY. Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has local chapters through out the United States and Canada.

    Read More

  • Essay On Leukemia

    569 Words  | 2 Pages

    Leukemia is a cancer of the blood cells, which start in the bone marrow. The disease develops when the blood cells produced in the bone marrow grow out of control. The cause for leukemia is unknown.

    Read More

  • Leukemia Essay

    893 Words  | 2 Pages

    “The word 'leukemia' is a very frightening word. In many instances, it's a killer and it's something that you have to deal with in a very serious and determined way if you're going to beat it” - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Many people, including tons of children, fight leukemia every day trying to beat this vicious cancer. Without knowing how leukemia is exactly caused, it puts a damper on how to avoid it.

    Read More

  • Why People Attend College

    1182 Words  | 3 Pages

    "College Costs - Average College Tuition Cost." Free College Search | Scholarships | College Admissions Requirements. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.

    Read More

  • Defying the Odds: Becoming a Successful Corporate Lawyer

    1462 Words  | 3 Pages

    Corporate Attorney Salary (United States)." Corporate Attorney (US) Salary. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2014.

    Read More

  • Causes Of Cancer

    876 Words  | 2 Pages

    Most cancer happens at different rates in other parts of the world. Lifestyle can increase a person’s risk for cancer because it can affect cells that are prepared to become cancerous by helping them grow. The environment can change genes which cause them to be cancerous in the first place. An abnormal cell is what causes a tumor. This cell appears to be no different from normal ones and only functions and divides when needed. Then, even though the organ it supports has a sufficient amount of cells, it divides uncontrollably (Weinberg 1-2).

    Read More

  • Leukemia Essay

    944 Words  | 2 Pages

    Leukemia is a cancer of the white blood cells. It begins in the bone marrow, the soft tissue inside the bones. Within the bone marrow is where white blood cells are created, that help fight off bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms within the body that cause infections. The disease develops to when the white blood cells are being produced out of control. The cells that are being produced do not work properly as they should, they grow faster than a normal cell would and don’t know when to stop growing. Overtime, if not treated properly, the white blood cells will over crowd blood cells, creating a serious problem such as anemia, bleeding and infection. Leukemia cells can spread to the lymph nodes and other organs in the body causing swelling and pain.

    Read More

  • Leukemia Essay

    1599 Words  | 4 Pages

    The emphasis on health and fitness has become paramount in our society today in an effort to prevent and combat diseases such as Cancers. Cancers are a group of over 100 diseases that affects every aspect of the human system from skin, to bones, to muscles, to blood. One of the most common blood disorders is Leukemia. As defined by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, Leukemia is a type of blood cancer that begins in the bone marrow. The bone marrow is the soft tissue in the center of the bone that is responsible for the production of blood cells. The term leukemia means white blood. The term leukocytes refer to white blood cells, which are body’s defense against infections and other foreign substances. When Leukemia occurs there is an uncontrolled increase in the number of white blood cells. When this occurs, these cancerous cells inhibit the production of healthy red blood cells, platelets, and mature white blood cells. Over time the cancerous cells can spread to the bloodstream and lymph nodes. They can also travel to the Central Nervous System and the rest of the body.

    Read More

  • Breast Cancer

    2062 Words  | 5 Pages

    Cancer occurs when cells divide uncontrollably. Cells keep dividing even though new cells are not needed. Change from normal to cancerous cells requires gene alterations. Altered genes and uncontrolled growth may lead to tumors.

    Read More

  • Animal Agriculture and the Environment

    1227 Words  | 3 Pages

    "How Much Water Should You Drink Every Day." WebMD. WebMD, 25 Jan. 2014. Web. 24 Apr. 2014.

    Read More

  • Informative Speech On Lung Cancer

    910 Words  | 2 Pages

    Cells generally multiply in accordance with our body's growth and development, however, mistakes happen with the genetic coding in our cells. This causes old and unhealthy cells to continue living and multiplying, or it could cause an abnormal growth of new cells where they aren't needed. Since so many new cells are being made every day mistakes in genetic coding may appear in different parts of our bodies. This causes the cells to multiply beyond control and begin spreading throughout the body, turning the healthy cells into cancerous ones as it progresses and thus spreading cancer around the body, fatal if near vital organs. Cancer can either be hereditary or caused by environmental and lifestyle choices.

    Read More

  • Becoming a Pediatrician

    1209 Words  | 3 Pages

    • Kibilko, John. “How Much Does It Cost for the Education & Skills to Be a Pediatric Neurologist?” eHow.com. 1999-2014. Web. January 6, 2014.

    Read More

  • Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    1161 Words  | 3 Pages

    Kanwar, V.S. (2013, Sep 16). Diseases & Conditions - Medscape Reference. Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Retrieved January 13, 2014, from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/990113-overview#a0156

    Read More

  • Clinical Psychologist

    910 Words  | 2 Pages

    "Clinical Psychologist Salary - Average Clinical Psychologist Salaries - PayScale." PayScale - Salary Comparison, Salary Survey, Search Wages. 1 Mar. 2011. Web. 06 Mar. 2011. .

    Read More

More about What Is Leukemia?

Open Document