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Acute Leukemia - Definition, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Leukemia is a malignant disease (cancer) oftreatment of choice. Stem cell
the bone marrow and blood. It istransplantation is used instead of
characterized by the uncontrolledconsolidative chemotherapy. Radiation therapy
accumulation of blood cells. In AML, the boneis used on painful bony areas, in high
marrow makes many unformed cells calleddisease burdens, or as part of the
blasts. AML starts with a change to a singlepreparations for a bone marrow transplant
cell in the bone marrow. With AML, the(total body irradiation). Stem cell
leukemic cells are often referred. to astransplant. Stem cell transplant is also used
blast cells. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)for consolidation therapy. It's similar to
is a fast-growing cancer in which the bodybone marrow transplant except the stem cells
produces a large number of immature whiteare collected from circulating blood
blood cells (lymphocytes). AML is the most(peripheral blood). Induction therapy for
common acute leukemia affecting, and itschildren with AML starts with two or three
incidence increases with age. Acute leukemiadrugs. Stronger treatment is needed after a
is a rapidly progressing disease that resultschild with AML is in remission. This is
in the accumulation of immature, functionlesscalled intensive consolidation therapy. It is
cells in the marrow and blood. In acutegiven because usually some AML cells remain
leukemia, cancerous cells multiply quicklyafter induction therapy. Allogeneic stem cell
and replace normal cells. Cancerous cellstransplant can be a high-risk procedure. For
take over normal parts of bone marrow,this reason, it may not be a good treatment
causing bone marrow failure. A person withfor some AML patients. Bone marrow or cord
ALL is more likely to bleed and haveblood transplant (also called a BMT) offers
infections because there are fewer normalsome patients the best chance for a long-term
blood cells. Several congenital conditionsremission  of  their  disease.
may increase the risk of leukemia; the most
common is probably Down syndrome, which isAcute  Leukemia  for  Treatment  Tips
associated with a 10- to 18-fold increase in
the  risk  of  AML.1. Chemotherapy -- drugs that destroy cancer
cells  or  stop  them  from  growing.
Leukemia is divided into four categories:
myelogenous or lymphocytic, each of which can2. Bone marrow or cord blood transplant (also
be acute or chronic. AML is more common incalled a BMT) offers some patients the best
men than in women. Acute myelogenous leukemiachance for a long-term remission of their
is the most common form of leukemia. Thedisease.
difference is even more apparent in older
patients. Leukemia is one of the top 15 most3. Gemtuzumab ozogamicin (Mylotarg) and
frequently occuring cancers in minorityMonoclonal antibodies are proteins designed
groups. Leukemia incidence is highest amongto attach to leukemia cells and help the
whites and lowest among American Indians andimmune  system  destroy  them.
Alaskan natives. Signs of AML are often
non-specific, and may be similar to those of4. Biological therapy attempts to stimulate
influenza or other common illnesses. Someor restore the ability of your child's immune
generalized symptoms include fever, fatigue,system  to  fight  cancer.
weight loss or loss of appetite, shortness of
breath with exertion, anemia, easy bruising5. Avoiding smoking, exposure to toxic
or bleeding, petechiae (flat, pin-head sizedchemicals, and exposure to radiation may help
spots under the skin caused by bleeding),prevent  some  cases  of  leukemia.
bone pain and joint pain and persistent or
frequent infections.This is likely because6. Gemtuzumab ozogamicin is a monoclonal
myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) are moreantibody against CD33 (a molecule present on
common in men, and advanced MDS frequentlymost AML cells but not on normal stem cells)
evolves into AML. More than 11,900 new casesconjugated to calicheamicin (a potent
occur in the United States each year, mostlychemotherapy  molecule).
in older. The average age of a person with
AML  is  65  years.7. Stem cell transplantation (SCT) is a
treatment that permits the use of doses of
Most of the standard treatment for ALL useschemotherapy and radiation therapy high
chemotherapy.Chemotherapy is the initialenough to destroy the patient's bone marrow.



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