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