Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia - Essay
Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Multiple forms of leukemia are present in today’s children. The four major forms of childhood leukemia include Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Acute Myelogenous Leukemia, and Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) is cancer of the bone and bone marrow (“Acute Myelogenous Leukemia” 1). Compared to AML where 10% of AML patients are children, Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia accounts for 80% of all childhood acute leukemia’s. ALL occurs in children ages three through seven (Zieve 1). Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) acquires six processes from the beginning of the disease to the end of the disease; understanding ALL involves learning about its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and the side effects. Since ALL is the most popular form of childhood acute leukemia’s, one needs to gather every bit of information present about this disease. This particular childhood leukemia is a type of blood cancer (“Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia” 1). ALL results from an acquired genetic injury to the DNA of a single cell in the bone marrow (Bellenir 592). Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, and Acute Lymphoid Leukemia are both synonyms for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (Bellenir 592). Throughout the United States in 2010, 5,330 people are expected to be diagnosed with ALL (“Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia” 1). Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia results when the body produces a large quantity of immature white blood cells (Hughes). ALL can originate in the bone, bone marrow, lymph nodes, and spleen (Zieve 1). “ALL starts with a change to a single cell in the bone marrow (“Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia” 1). As with any disease, risk factors are present with ALL. If an individual has had exposure to high doses of radiation therapy, they are at a high risk for developing ALL (“Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia” 1). “ALL occurs at different rates in different geographic locations” (“Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia” 2). However, people that live in
Cited: “Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia”. 2 Sep 2010. 15 Nov. 2010. www.leukemia-lymphoma.org ("Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia".)“Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia”. Cancer Sourcebook. Karen Bellenir. Ed. Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics, Inc., 2007. 592-594 “Acute Myelogenous Leukemia”. 13 Dec. 2010. www.marrow.org Hughes, Carla. Personal interview by Jaclynne Felske. 30 Nov. 2010. Zieve, David. “Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia”. 3 Mar. 2010. 15 Nov. 2010.