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post@antondaysmilefoundation.org
"Leukaemia" (meaning "white blood") is the term given to cancer of the blood or bone marrow, and is associated with an abnormal rise in white blood cells, or leukocytes. In the UK, leukaemia is the 13th most common cancer and accounts for approximately 2.5% of all cancers. Around 20 people per day are diagnosed with leukaemia, and although it is the most prevalent form of cancer in minors, more than 90% of all leukaemia cases are diagnosed in adults. Latest survival rates from Cancer Research UK demonstrate that the 5 year survival rate of leukaemia victims is around 40%.
Leukaemia can be categorised in 2 main ways; firstly by rate of increase in numbers of leukocytes, and secondly according to which type of leukocyte is affected. Acute leukaemia is diagnosed following a rapid rise in the number of immature blood cells, disabling the bone marrow?s ability to produce healthy cells. The fast onset and progression of acute leukaemia requires immediate treatment to prevent the malignant cells moving into the bloodstream and spreading to other organs. This is the most common form of leukaemia in children. Chronic leukaemia results in a slower build up of more mature although still abnormal leukocytes. This type of leukaemia can take months or years to progress. The abnormal cells are produced at a much greater rate than the normal cells, resulting in an increasing percentage of abnormal cells as the disease progresses. Chronic leukaemia may be monitored prior to treatment to allow for maximum impact. This type of leukaemia is more likely to occur in adults.
Both acute and chronic leukaemia can affect various leukocytes and erythrocytes. Lymphocytic or lymphoblastic leukaemia affects the bone marrow cells that would usually produce lymphocytes, a white blood cell that defends the host against infection and tumours. Most lymphocytic leukaemia?s affect the B cells, which are integral in producing antibodies to counteract foreign bodies such as bacteria and viruses. Myelogenous leukaemia has an effect on the type of bone marrow cells that would usually produce red blood cells, other types of leukocytes and platelets. These classifications produce 4 main sub-categories of leukaemia: acute lymphoblastic, chronic lymphocytic, acute myelogenous and chronic myelogenous.
Acute myelogenous leukaemia is more prevalent in adults than children, with the majority of those diagnosed being men. The 5 year survival rate is thought to be around 40%. Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is the most common form of leukaemia in minors, although it can also affect adults, particularly those aged 65 and over. The 5 year survival rates vary depending on the age of the patient, with approximately 85% in children, dropping to 50% in adults. Chronic myeologenous leukaemia is almost exclusively diagnosed in adults, with the highest 5 year survival rate at 90%. Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is most likely to affect adults of 55 and over. It sometimes occurs in younger adults, but almost never in children. Sixty-six percent of those affected are men, with 5 year survival rates at 75%, despite the disease being incurable. There are also some rarer forms of leukaemia such as hairy cell, large granular lymphocytic and adult T-cell leukaemia that do not fit into these sub-groups.
Symptoms of leukaemia include inability of the blood to clot, bruising, and frequent infection such as tonsillitis, sores in the mouth and diarrhoea due to suppression of the immune system. Patients may also feel fatigued due to anaemia, or display flu-like symptoms. There is no known single cause for leukaemia, although it seems to result from mutations in the DNA, giving it a predisposition to heredity. Proximity to certain chemicals and radiation as well as tobacco use are also thought to increase the risk of a leukaemia diagnosis. Most forms of leukaemia are treated with a combination of pharmacological medications as a multi-drug chemotherapy. Radiation therapy or a bone marrow transplant may also be used. Lumbar punctures may be necessary depending on the type of leukaemia.
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