Leukemia >> Types and Causes

leukemia cellsLeukemia is a dreaded form of cancer that becomes the blood forming cells in bone marrow. The disease is typically characterized by excessive production of white blood cells, which cause crowding in the marrow and often spill over in to the peripheral blood. This in turn leads to decreased production and function of normal blood cells also reducing their ability to fight infections. In some cases acute leukocyte (white blood cells) do so abundant that the blood makes a whitish tinge. Although initially converted in leukemia cells in the blood, there are different types of leukemia affecting any areas of the body such as lymph nodes, spleen, liver, central nervous system and other organs.

Major Types of Leukemia

Depending on the type of cells involved, the leukemia is categorized as Myelogenous leukemia and lymphocytic leukemia. Each has both acute and chronic stages. The main types of leukemia are:

* Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)
* Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
* Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
* Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

Acute lymphocytic leukemia is increasingly seen among children while acute Myelogenous leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia are more common among adults.

Acute leukemia progresses rapidly especially among unformed or primitive cells that make blood cells incapable of performing normal functions. Chronic leukemia progresses otherwise permit a slower growth of a comparatively larger number of developed cells that can function normally.

What causes leukemia?

The exact cause of leukemia is yet to be known and equally rigorous research is ongoing. However, few risk factors have been identified that make individuals more prone to leukemia. Take a look at a few such risk factors:

* Exposure to large amounts of radiation
* Frequent contact with certain specific chemicals (such as benzene)
* Certain types of virus are said to cause little specific leukemia (eg, leukemia T-cell)
* Leukemia can also be caused by some genetic conditions
* Smoking is considered a common risk factor
* Certain types of cancer therapy are said to cause leukemia

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