Although the exact reasons for leukemia remain not fully understood but there are dangers which have been linked to the development of several forms of leukemia. There are genetic and environmental aspects that have been found as being linked to leukemia.
The type of leukemia that a patient is usually determined by the kind of white blood cells that are abnormal being made in the body. Leukemia creates abnormal or immature white blood cells that are found in the bone marrow. In the early stages of development of the white blood cells blasts are the immature type that contains white blood cells. This is the time between the stem cells in the bone marrow and mature blood. The blasts (immature blood cells) can be found in very small quantities within the bone marrow in healthy people and are not found present in blood streams. Patients with leukemia might have a high number of blasts within the bone marrow, and may even be circulation throughout the circulation system.
Different types of leukemia are classified as chronic or acute. Acute leukemia typically creates immature white blood cells which have stopped functioning. The cells multiply quickly and can swell healthy cells. Chronic leukemia causes irregular blood cells which do not perform as well like normal blood cells. These types of leukemia are less invasive on the body than acute types of leukemia.
Acute myelogenous lymphoma (AML) is most prevalent in adult patients and results in the rapid growth of immature white blood cells within the bone marrow, which crowd out normal cells. They then spread these cells that aren’t functioning across the body. This can affect the normal functioning of healthy blood cells. Chronic myelogenous Leukemia (CML) results in an increase uncontrolled growth of myeloid cells in bone marrow, and an increased quantity of white blood cells present in the blood. A severe anemia is the consequence of this excess of white blood cells.
Acute lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) is the most frequent type among children who are younger than of 15. The rapid growth of malignant white blood cells can cause a crowded out of healthy white blood cells. This kind of leukemia responds well treatment when it is detected early enough. In chronic lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) the defective white blood cell (WBC) is created in over abundance. The cells are not able to fight infections and instead overtakes healthy cells. The chronic lymphocytic Leukemia is only found out through the results of a blood test, when an increased number of white blood cells is detected.
Risk factors that scientists have identified include radiation exposure at high levels and long-term exposure to chemicals in the workplace smoking cigarettes, as well as chemical exposures in the agricultural sector. The high radiation levels like around the reactor that was destroyed at Chernobyl or exposure to military personnel to nuclear detonations during the 1950’s have a clear connection with leukemia. The exposure to benzene, herbicides and pesticides has been linked with acute leukemia.
Leukemia with chronic lymphocytic symptoms is linked to agricultural chemicals and the exposure of Agent Orange. Smoking cigarettes is believed to be an significant connections with acute leukemia. This could be due to the chemical compounds like benzene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polonium-210. Certain chemotherapy drugs , particularly alkylating agents, when combined with ionizing radiation can cause leukemia. Certain diseases that are caused by abnormal chromosomes could raise the risk of getting leukemia. Philadelphia chromosome is a particular chromosomal disorder in which the parts of two chromosomes switch locations. This could lead to acute myelogenous leukemia.