Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
Description
According to Medicine.net acute myeloid leukemia is a fast progressive malignant disease in which there are an excessive amount of immature blood-forming cells in the blood and bone marrow, the cells being precisely those intended to give rise to the granulocytes or monocytes, both types of white blood cells that fight infections. “Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has many other names, including acute myelocytic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, acute granulocytic leukemia, and acute non-lymphocytic leukemia” (What is Acute Myeloid Leukemia, 2014). Acute myeloid leukemia can occur in all ages but increases with age (Pellico, 2013).
Causes
Acute myeloid leukemia can occur due to defects in the hematopoietic stem cell that is different in all …show more content…
Ages Affected All ages could be affected by AML. Though, it is most common in older people. As you get older studies have shown that the chance of getting AML will increase. At the age of 60 is when AML has a peak incident (Pellico, 2013). “The 5-year survival rate for patients who are 65 years or younger is %33; it drops to %4 for those older than 65 years” (Pellico p. 541, 2013). Older patients have a less time of survival rate and the response to treatment does not work as good than it does for younger people (Pellico, 2013).
Signs and Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of AML are:
• “Insufficient production of normal blood cells”
• Fever and infection results from neutropenia(lack of white blood cells)
• Weakness and fatigue from anemia
• Bleeding tendencies from thrombocytopenia
• Pain from enlarged liver or spleen
• Hyperplasia of the gums
• Bone pain from expansion of bone marrow
• Petechiae and purpura
• Ecchymosis
According to Medicine.net acute myeloid leukemia is a fast progressive malignant disease in which there are an excessive amount of immature blood-forming cells in the blood and bone marrow, the cells being precisely those intended to give rise to the granulocytes or monocytes, both types of white blood cells that fight infections. “Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has many other names, including acute myelocytic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, acute granulocytic leukemia, and acute non-lymphocytic leukemia” (What is Acute Myeloid Leukemia, 2014). Acute myeloid leukemia can occur in all ages but increases with age (Pellico, 2013).
Causes
Acute myeloid leukemia can occur due to defects in the hematopoietic stem cell that is different in all …show more content…
Ages Affected All ages could be affected by AML. Though, it is most common in older people. As you get older studies have shown that the chance of getting AML will increase. At the age of 60 is when AML has a peak incident (Pellico, 2013). “The 5-year survival rate for patients who are 65 years or younger is %33; it drops to %4 for those older than 65 years” (Pellico p. 541, 2013). Older patients have a less time of survival rate and the response to treatment does not work as good than it does for younger people (Pellico, 2013).
Signs and Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of AML are:
• “Insufficient production of normal blood cells”
• Fever and infection results from neutropenia(lack of white blood cells)
• Weakness and fatigue from anemia
• Bleeding tendencies from thrombocytopenia
• Pain from enlarged liver or spleen
• Hyperplasia of the gums
• Bone pain from expansion of bone marrow
• Petechiae and purpura
• Ecchymosis