Leukemia Survivors ALL 2 category

Patients had abnormally high levels of white blood cells, and they called the disease “weisses blut,” meaning “white blood.” The term “leukemia” that is used now comes from the Greek words “leukos” and “heima,” also meaning “white blood” (Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 2005). In 1913, four types of leukemia were classified: chronic lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, and erythroleukemia. In 1970, it was first confirmed that some patients could be cured of leukemia, and by the 1980s and 1990s the cure rates for leukemia were around 70% (Pui, 2003).

After this accurate information lets have write about the ALL2 category Leukemia disease. 

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is a fast-growing cancer of a type of white blood cells called lymphocytes. These cells are found in the bone marrow and other parts of the body.
See also: Leukemia

Causes

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) occurs when the the body produces a large number of immature white blood cells, called lymphocytes. The cancer cells quickly grow and replace normal cells in the bone marrow. Bone marrow is the soft tissue in the center of bones that helps form blood cells. ALL prevents healthy blood cells from being made. Life-threatening symptoms can occur.
This type of leukemia usually affects children ages 3 - 7. It is the most common childhood acute leukemia. However, the cancer may also occur in adults.
Most of the time, there is no obvious cause. However, the following may play a role in the development of leukemia in general:

• Certain chromosome problems
• Exposure to radiation, including x-rays before birth
• Past treatment with chemotherapy drugs
• Receiving a bone marrow transplant
• Toxins such as benzene

The following increases your risk for this ALL:

• Down syndrome or other genetic disorders
• A brother or sister with leukemia

Symptoms

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) makes you more likely to bleed and develop infections. Symptoms include:

• Bone and joint pain
• Easy bruising and bleeding (such as bleeding gums, skin bleeding, nosebleeds, abnormal periods)
• Feeling weak or tired
• Fever
• Loss of appetite and weight loss
• Paleness
• Pain or feeling of fullness below the ribs
• Pinpoint red spots on the skin (petechiae)
• Swollen glands (lymphadenopathy) in the neck, under arms, and groin
• Night sweats

Note: These symptoms can occur with other conditions. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific symptoms.

Exams and Tests

A physical exam may reveal the following:

• Bruising
• Swollen liver, lymph nodes, and spleen
• Signs of bleeding (petechiae, purpura)

Blood tests may include:

• Complete blood count (CBC), including white blood cell (WBC) count
• Platelet count
• Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy
• Lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to check for leukemia cells in the spinal fluid

Tests are also done to look for chromosome changes in the cells of some leukemias. Leukemias with certain types of chromosome changes have a poor outlook, while those with other types of genes can have a very good outlook. This may determine what kind of treatment you receive.

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to get the blood counts back to normal. If this occurs and the bone marrow looks healthy under the microscope, the cancer is said to be in remission.
Chemotherapy is used to treat this type of leukemia.

• The first time you receive chemotherapy, you may need to stay in the hospital for several weeks.
• Later you may receive chemotherapy as an outpatient, meaning you come to a clinic to receive the treatment

If you have a low white blood cell count, you may need to be placed in a hospital room by yourself so you do not catch an infection.
ALL may spread to the brain and spinal cord. Chemotherapy drugs givent through a vein cannot reach these areas. Therefore, you may also receive:

• Chemotherapy given directly into the space around your brain or in the spinal column
• Radiation therapy to the brain

You may also receive chemotherapy from time to time to prevent the cancer from coming back.
If your leukemia returns or does not respond to other treatments, a bone marrow or stem cell transplant is usually recommended. A bone marrow or stem cell transplant may also be recommended if you have a brother or sister who is a complete match, or if you have a high-risk type of leukemia.
Additional treatments depend on other symptoms. They may include:

• Transfusion of blood products, such as platelets or red blood cells
• Antibiotics to fight infection, especially if a fever occur

Now lets have talk about one Leukemia patient in Nepal her name is Gita Baral. Here is no positive thinking towards the blood cancer. But she is one of the 7 years survivors from this disease and she is normal in health point of view, she is not taking any medicine from last 5 year, she has not any sign and symptoms of Leukemia disease, her HB on studay report is 13.5, WBC report is 6500 and Pleatelets is 190000 and she also completed Master Degree in Health Care Management, doing job in one Agriculture Dev. Co-operative PVT Ltd. and she has been leaving normal life