LEUKEMIA

Leukemia is a type of cancer found in your blood and bone marrow and is caused by the rapid production of abnormal white blood cells. These abnormal white blood cells are not able to fight infection and impair the ability of the bone marrow to produce red blood cells and platelets.
Leukemia can be either acute or chronic. Chronic leukemia progresses more slowly than acute leukemia, which requires immediate treatment. Leukemia is also classified as lymphocytic or myelogenous. Lymphocytic leukemia refers to abnormal cell growth in the marrow cells that become lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that plays a role in the immune system. In myelogenous leukemia, abnormal cell growth occurs in the marrow cells that mature into red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. There are four broad classifications of leukemia:

• Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
• Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
• Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)

Leukemia occurs in both adults and children. ALL is the most common form ofchildhood leukemia, and AML is the second most common. Decades of research have led to vastly improved outcomes for children diagnosed with ALL. The two most common adult leukemias are AML and CLL.

Am I at Risk?

Although experts are uncertain about the causes of leukemia, they have identified several risk factors that include the following:

• Exposure to high levels of radiation
• Repeated exposure to certain chemicals (for example, benzene)
• Chemotherapy
• Down Syndrome
• A strong family history of leukemia

Symptoms vary depending on the type and stage of leukemia, but they can include the following:

• Fever, chills, night sweats and other flu-like symptoms
• Weakness and fatigue
• Swollen or bleeding gums
• Headaches
• Enlarged liver and spleen
• Swollen tonsils
• Bone pain
• Paleness
• Pinhead-size red spots on the skin
• Weight loss

Source:  http://www.hematology.org/Patients/Cancers/Leukemia.aspx