U N D E RS TA N D I N G
& THE BENEFITS OF
WRITTEN BY JORDAN PERSON
Leukemia does not discriminate. It knows no age, nor color; it can affect anyone. Leukemia is a type of cancer that occurs in the bloodforming tissues of the body including the bone marrow and lymphatic system. Bone marrow is the spongy material inside our bones where our blood cells are made. The lymphatic system is what processes the body’s waste products and transports lymph, a fluid rich in which blood cells, throughout the body to assist in fighting infections. Since white blood cells are the body’s defense to fight infection this makes treating leukemia very complex.
LEUKEMIA DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE. IT KNOWS NO AGE, NOR COLOR; IT CAN AFFECT ANYONE.
Leukemia is classified in two ways,1 the first of which is by how fast it progresses and whether or not the leukemia is acute or chronic. Acute diseases have a fast and intense onset, compared to chronic diseases which are slow-building conditions. Secondarily, leukemia is classified by the specific type of white blood cell that is being attacked. There are four main types of leukemia: ● Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL): most commonly seen in children, but it can also occur in adults. ● Acute myeloid leukemia (AML): most common in adults but can also be seen in children. ● Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): Adults diagnosed with CLL may have minimal symptoms for several years before needing treatment. It is the most common form of chronic leukemia in adults. ● Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML): is slow-growing, but it can change into a fast-growing, hard-to-treat cancer overnight. There is also a rare type of leukemia called hairy cell leukemia 2 that receives its name from the cell’s hairy appearance when viewed through a microscope. It occurs more commonly in men and older adults but is not as common as the four main types of leukemia described above. Treatment is often timely and very aggressive. The treatment is dependent on the type of leukemia the patient has. A physician determines the best course of treatment based on factors like age and overall health. Chemotherapy is the most used form of treatment for leukemia. Chemotherapy3 is a treatment that can be given via intravenous infusion, by mouth, through the skin, or by injection. Chemicals are used to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. While this treatment is very effective for killing cancer cells, the toll that it takes on the patient’s body is nothing to ignore. “Chemo brain” is one of the most common complaints from patients receiving chemotherapy. A recent study done at Stanford University4 showed three different types of cells in the brain being affected causing cognitive impairment. Symptoms of chemotherapy include memory loss, irritability, mental fogginess, and difficulty multitasking. These symptoms make school difficult for children and that difficulty continues as an adult, making simple tasks like holding down a fulltime job difficult for adults long after treatment. These symptoms can last for months and up to years, and the side effects of chemotherapy
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