| Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the | | | | rate and is therefore used only in life |
| blood and bone marrow. There are two types of | | | | threatening cases.Immunotherapy is a means to |
| leukemia, chronic and acute, which are | | | | stimulate the immune system so the body can |
| treated differently and have different | | | | attack the cancer cells. This type of |
| symptoms. Acute leukemia rapidly progresses | | | | treatment is still in its early stages and |
| and needs immediate, aggressive treatment. | | | | continually under development. It is believed |
| Chronic leukemia can take months or years to | | | | that this type of treatment may prove less |
| show symptoms and may not need immediate | | | | harmful than chemotherapy or radiation |
| treatment but will require ongoing | | | | therapy and may someday supplant these |
| monitoring.Chemotherapy utilizes chemicals to | | | | treatments as a method for treating |
| treat the cancer. It causes many side effects | | | | cancer.Long term effects of leukemia |
| such as hair loss, nausea and decline of the | | | | treatments may cause anemia. This side effect |
| immune system. The complete course of therapy | | | | can be treated by blood transfusions or |
| can be from two to five years including | | | | platelet transfusions. There are risks with |
| maintenance. This is the most common form of | | | | transfusions but it is believed transfusions |
| treatment for leukemia with the desired | | | | will help reduce the threat of additional |
| result being total remission. Even without | | | | complications such as heart attacks. Doses of |
| symptoms, ongoing monitoring must occur to | | | | antibiotics are also generally prescribed to |
| guard against relapse.Radiation therapy is | | | | leukemia patients to help counteract the |
| another form of treatment. It is painless and | | | | danger of infection cause by declined immune |
| in low doses causes very few side effects. | | | | system or treatment side effects.There are |
| Where the radiation is concentrated and the | | | | currently almost 200,000 people in the United |
| exposure levels will determine the side | | | | States diagnosed with leukemia and an |
| effects, if any, and the severity of them. | | | | estimated 35,000 new cases will be diagnosed |
| Damage to the skin, swelling and infertility | | | | this year. It is the leading cause of death |
| are among the possible side effects.A bone | | | | for people under the age of 20. There are |
| marrow transplant is an effective way to | | | | many treatment facilities throughout the |
| prolong the life of cancer patients. It is, | | | | United States specializing in cancer |
| however, a risky surgery and requires a donor | | | | treatment. Early diagnosis, aggressive |
| which can be difficult in attaining. These | | | | treatment, and monitoring will help prolong |
| surgeries should be performed at state of the | | | | life and increase chances of a person going |
| art hospitals specializing in cancer | | | | into remission. |
| treatment. This surgery has a high mortality | | | | |