Leukemia

Leukemia Cameron Taylor

Overview Leukemia is a type of cancer that is found in

blood or bone marrow Specifically it is the abnormal increase of

white blood cells (aka “Blasts”) There are two main groups of leukemia,

Chronic and Acute

Chronic Build up of more mature blood cells

Can be examined over a period of time to study the most effective way of treatment

Acute Rapid increase of immature blood cells Crowd bone marrow so it is unable to make

healthy blood cells Accumulation makes the cells flow out into

the blood stream and organs Very dangerous and must be treated

immediately

Symptoms Flu like symptoms Bruise easily Bleed excessively Headache Nausea All symptoms relate to other diseases so

leukemia is only found through medical tests

Causes Long exposure to radiation

Genetics

Treatment Pharmaceutical medication Chemotherapy Some may be treated by radiation therapy In some cases bone marrow transplants can

help

Statistics Estimated 44,600 people will get leukemia

(25,320 men, 19,280 women) in 2011 Estimated 21,780 men and women will die

from leukemia in 2011 Leukemia accounts for 9% of all cancer

related deaths in 2011