| According to research published in an issue of the | | | | they may have the disease. |
| New Scientist, there may be eight genes that will | | | |
|
| determine if an individual develops leukemia. The | | | | *
fatigue, tiredness, lack of energy |
| study was completed at Washington University in St. | | | | *
shortness of breath, difficulty breathing during |
| Louis by a team of researchers who used | | | | physical activity |
| "developed sequencing methods to look at the entire | | | | *
pale skin |
| genome of cells from an acute myelogenous | | | | * pinhead-sized red spots that appear just under the |
| leukemia (AML) tumor and from the patient's skin, | | | | skin |
| which helped narrow down and identify 10 varying | | | | *
joint and bone aches, pains |
| genes between the tissues." | | | | *
low white cell counts |
|
| | | | *
black and blue marks or bruises that appear |
| The researchers were then able to pinpoint two | | | | with no cause or reason |
| previously identifiable cancer-causing genes and | | | | *
fever or night sweats |
| eliminate them from the study. Then, the researchers | | | | Smoking Cessation Drugs |
| identified three of the genes out of the eight and | | | | While there are an array of factors involved in the |
| found them as having been tumor-suppressors. | | | | development of leukemia, smoking is one of the top |
| Tumor-suppressors genes cause cells that have been | | | | causes that can be prevented if smoking cessation |
| damaged to die off, which is also known as apoptosis | | | | occurs among the types of leukemia. There are an |
| or senescence, and because of this, cell populations | | | | array of smoking cessation drugs available in the |
| cannot replenish, thus causing weakness of the body | | | | United States for the 43.4 million American adults that |
| and the development of cancers such as leukemia. | | | | were reportedly smokers in 2007, according to the |
| The research is considered breakthrough and may | | | | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). |
| lead to the development of more treatments as well | | | |
|
| as better-equipped screening processes and highlight | | | | The CDC has issued the following list of cancers and |
| potential candidate�s who may be at a higher risk | | | | conditions as linked to individuals who smoke: |
| of developing the cancer. | | | | *
stomach |
| What Is Leukemia? | | | | *
pancreas |
| Leukemia is described as a �malignant disease of | | | | *
kidney |
| the bone marrow and blood,� according to the | | | | *
cervix |
| Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which also | | | | * lung |
| describes the cancer as divided into four various | | | | *
bladder |
| categories including the following. | | | |
A plethora of smoking-cessation aids and |
|
| | | | drugs currently exist to assist smokers in quitting, but |
| *
Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) | | | | when some of these drugs also offer unintended and |
| *
Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) | | | | severe side effects, it becomes important for |
| *
Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) | | | | individuals to know what they are consuming, |
| *
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) | | | | whether a drug is prescribed by a physician or |
| Leukemia Causes, Signs and Symptoms | | | | available over-the-counter at the local grocery store. |
| According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society all | | | |
|
| four varieties of the disease begin within a cell in the | | | | For example, one such drug is known as Chantix or |
| bone marrow, which �undergoes a leukemic | | | | Champix (varenicline tartrate) and is a prescription |
| change and multiplies into many cells.� Each type | | | | medication available to deter smoking addictions. |
| of leukemia is characterized by �the rate at which | | | | However, the drug, from Pfizer, was recently linked |
| leukemia progresses and how the cells replace the | | | | to deadly side effects including suicidal thoughts, |
| normal blood and marrow cells.� However, there | | | | suicidal tendencies, depression, behavioral changes |
| are common types of risk factors that are | | | | and moodiness. |
| associated with leukemia including the following: | | | |
|
| *
tobacco smoke | | | | While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) |
| *
radiation therapy when used during other | | | | have looked into the Chantix risks but have deemed |
| cancer treatments | | | | the smoking cessation aid safe enough to remain on |
| *
chronic benzene exposure | | | | the market for the time being. Chantix patients who |
| *
genetic diseases including down syndrome | | | | have been negatively impacted by the drug are |
| *
chemotherapy treatments and exposures to | | | | encouraged to speak with a pharmaceutical attorney |
| high doses of radiation therapy | | | | for a free legal consultation on the potential for |
| Diagnosing leukemia can be difficult at times because | | | | participating in a Chantix class action lawsuit that may |
| of the similarities of leukemia signs and symptoms to | | | | offer a return of monetary compensation to assist a |
| other types of conditions and illnesses, but, the | | | | victim with psychiatric or additional medical bills or |
| Leukemia and Lymphoma Society described the | | | | conditions caused by the prescription cessation drug |
| following symptoms to watch for if a patient feels | | | | Chantix. |