home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- This file is copyright of Jens Schriver (c)
- It originates from the Evil House of Cheat
- More essays can always be found at:
- --- http://www.CheatHouse.com ---
- ... and contact can always be made to:
- Webmaster@cheathouse.com
- --------------------------------------------------------------
- Essay Name : 407.txt
- Uploader : Michael Riley
- Email Address :
- Language : English
- Subject : Biology
- Title : Leukemia
- Grade : 10th
- School System : Private
- Country : USA
- Author Comments : Good
- Teacher Comments : Good Work
- Date : 10-30-96
- Site found at : surfing
- --------------------------------------------------------------
- Leukemia
-
-
- Leukemia is a disease characterized by the formation of abnormal
- numbers of white blood cells, for which no certain cure has been found.
- Leukemia is also conditions characterized by the transformation of normal
- blood-forming cells into abnormal white blood cells whose unrestrained
- growth overwhelms and replaces normal bone marrow and blood cells.
- Leukemias are named according to the normal cell from which they
- originate, such as Lymphocyte Leukemia. Lymphocyte Leukemia is where a
- Lymphocyte cell is transformed into a Leukemia cell. Another example of
- Leukemia is Myelocytic or (Granulocytic Leukemia). This forms when a
- Myelocytic cell is changed or transformed into a Leukemia cell. Different
- Leukemia's are located in the microscope and by how much protein they
- contain. These Leukemia's are usually very severe and need treatment right
- away. The present incidence of new cases per year in the United States is
- about 25 to every 100,000 persons.
- The danger to the patient lies in the growth of these abnormal white
- cells, which interfere with the growth of the red blood cells, normal white
- blood cells, and the blood platelets. The uncontrolled growth of the
- abnormal white cells produces a tendency to unstop bleeding, the risk of
- getting serious infection in the wounds, and a very small possibility of
- obstruction of the blood vessels.
- Treatment of these Leukemias include chemotherapy with alkylafing
- agents, or antimetabodies that suppress the growth of abnormal white cells.
- Another treatment of some kind would be the x-ray or the administration or
- radioactive substances, or radiophosphorus, may be used. After treatment
- these diseases may last for many years. Age of the person diagnosed with
- Leukemia does play an important part in how that individual responds to any
- treatment. The older the person the less response he may have to treatment.
- Leukemia in Animals white blood cells is much less common as Leukemia
- in humans white blood cells.
- Today's treatment mostly includes chemotherapy and or bone marrow
- transplantation supportive care, where transfusions of blood components and
- prompt treatment of complicating infections, is very important. Ninety
- percent of children with Acute Lymphocyte Leukemia have received
- chemotherapy and fifty percent of theses children have been fully cured of
- Leukemia. Treatment of AML or Acute Myeolcytic Leukemia is not as
- successful but has been improving more and more throughout the 1990's.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Scientists that study the cause of Leukemia have not had very much
- success lately. Very large doses of x-rays can increase the efficacy growth of
- Leukemia. Chemicals such as Benzene also may increase the risk of getting
- Leukemia. Scientists have tried experiments on Leukemia in Animals by
- transmitting RNA into the body of the Animal. Interpretation of these results
- in relation with human Leukemia is very cautious at this time. Studies have
- also suggested that family history, race, genetic factors, and geography may
- all play some part in determining the rates of growth of these Leukemias.
- Stewart Alsop is an example of Acute Myeoblastic Leukemia, or
- AML. On the day of July 21, 1971 Stewart was made aware of some of the
- doctors suspicions due to his bone marrow test. He was told by his doctor in
- Georgetown that his marrow slides looked so unusual that he had brought in
- other doctors to view the test and they could not come to an agreement so
- they all suggested that he take another bone marrow exam. The second test
- was known to be "hypocelluar" meaning that it had very few cells of any sort,
- normal of abnormal. The Georgetown doctors counted, about fourty-four
- percent of his cells were abnormal, and he added, with a condor that he later
- discovered characteristics. "They were ugly-looking cells." Most of them
- looked like Acute Meyoblastic Leukemia cells, but not all some of them
- looked like the cells of another kind of Leukemia, Acatymphoblastic
- Leukemia, and some of them looked like the cells of still another kind of
- bone marrow cancer, not a Leukemia, it is called Dysprotinemia. And even
- the Myeloblastic cells didn't look exactly like Myeloblastic cells should look.
- Stewart has been treated with chemotherapy and is still living today but he
- doesn't have very much longer to live.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Sadako Saski was born in Japan in the year of 1943 she died twelve
- years later in the year of 1955 of Leukemia. She was in Hiroshima when the
- United States Air Force dropped an atomic bomb on that city in an attempt to
- end World War II. Sadako Saski was only two years old when all this had
- happened. Ten years later, Sadako had been diagnosed with Leukemia as a
- result of the radiation from the bomb. At this time Sadako was only a twelve
- year old little girl and she died of Leukemia. Everyday Sadako grew weaker
- and weaker thinking about her death and the day finally came. Sadako died
- on October 25, 1955. Sadako was very much loved by all of her classmates.
- At the time of death, her classmates folded 356 paper cranes to be buried
- with her. This is a symbol in Jpan of thoughtfulness.
- In summary to what I have learned about Leukemia it is a very painful
- disease. The people with Leukemia suffer very much throughout the disease
- and treatment of the disease, even if they are eventually cured. The treatment
- it took to get there was very painful. The studies of Leukemia have helped
- alot of people to be cured but there are still alot of people suffering due to no
- cure found to help them. I'm sure like all other cures needed, the money is
- short funded for the research that cost so very much. Maybe someday soon,
- we hope, they will find a cure for all kinds of cancer.
-
-
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------
-