Leukemia
...any cases is more difficult to cure. Leukemia is also grouped as lymphocytic or myelogenous, depending on what type of white blood cell it has affected: lymphoid cells or myeloid cells. Therefore, there are four major leukemia types: Acute lymphocytic, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia and chronic myelogenous leukemia. Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia will be diagnosed in about 3,500 people in the United States this year, primarily children under age 10. It is a disease in which too many disease-fighting white blood cells, called lymphocytes, are found in the body. Lymphocytes may crowd out other blood cells in the blood and bone marrow. ALL accounts for 80 percent of all childhood leukemia cases. With advances in treatment, most children with acute lymphocytic survival rate is 58 percent. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia will be diagnosed in 8,100 people in the United States this year, most of them adults. It is a disease in which too many disease-fighting white blood cells, called lymphocytes, are found in the body. In CLL, the lymphocytes look normal, but they cannot fight infection as well as they should. CLL progresses slowly and usually occurs in people 60 years or older. The overall five-year survival rate is 71 percent. Acute Myelogenous Leukemia will be diagnosed in 10,000 people in the United States this year, both children and adults. In AML, cancer cells are found in the blood and bone marrow. The malignant cell loses its ability to mature and specialize its function. These cells multiply rapidly, and replace the normal cells, bone marrow failure occurs as malignant cells replace normal bone marrow elements. The person becomes susceptible to infections. AML is more common in people who are over age 40, and is most prevalent in people over 60 years of age. The overall five-year survival rate is 14 percent. Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia will be diagnosed in 4,700 people in the United States this year, primarily adults. CML us caused by a chromosomal defect, which produces an abnormal enzyme that then triggers the overabundance of white blood cells. CML affects the bone marrow cells, called granulocytes. CML progresses slowly and usually occurs in people who are middle-aged or older. The overall five-year survival rate in 32 percent. Leukemia is a complex disease and to understand it better, it helps to know more about blood cell development. A malignan...