Cancer is a group of diseases involved in the abnormal growth of cells with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. Not all tumours are cancerous, benign tumours do not spread to other parts of the body while malignant tumours can spread to other parts of the body.
Leukaemia causes the DNA of immature blood cells, mainly white blood cells, to become damaged. The disease causes blood cells to grow and divide chaotically. Whereas normal blood cells die after a while and are replaced by new blood cells, produced in the bone marrow, the abnormal blood cells do not die and accumulate, occupying more space. The more space occupied by these abnormal blood cells, there becomes less space for normal blood cells and the patient becomes sick. There are two different types of leukaemia: acute leukaemia and chronic leukaemia. Acute leukaemia normally affects younger age groups and the disease works at a rapid pace in the blood and bone marrow. If it is left untreated the blast cells become fatal within weeks or months. Chronic leukaemia generally affects the older age group and works at a less rapid pace than acute leukaemia, is usually less aggressive and if left untreated it can be fatal within 2-3 years.
Symptoms of leukaemia can include:
Poor blood clotting, which can result in easy bruising or bleeding and slow healing. …show more content…
Treatment should start as soon as possible especially patients with acute leukaemia. When the patient is in remission, they will receive chemotherapy (a drug treatment in the form of a pill or injection in the vein, that kills the leukaemia cells. This can be a single or a combination of drugs depending on the type of leukaemia you have) as well as a bone marrow transplant. Radiation (the use of x-rays or other high energy beams to damage leukaemia cells and stop their growth) is also a treatment option for
Leukaemia causes the DNA of immature blood cells, mainly white blood cells, to become damaged. The disease causes blood cells to grow and divide chaotically. Whereas normal blood cells die after a while and are replaced by new blood cells, produced in the bone marrow, the abnormal blood cells do not die and accumulate, occupying more space. The more space occupied by these abnormal blood cells, there becomes less space for normal blood cells and the patient becomes sick. There are two different types of leukaemia: acute leukaemia and chronic leukaemia. Acute leukaemia normally affects younger age groups and the disease works at a rapid pace in the blood and bone marrow. If it is left untreated the blast cells become fatal within weeks or months. Chronic leukaemia generally affects the older age group and works at a less rapid pace than acute leukaemia, is usually less aggressive and if left untreated it can be fatal within 2-3 years.
Symptoms of leukaemia can include:
Poor blood clotting, which can result in easy bruising or bleeding and slow healing. …show more content…
Treatment should start as soon as possible especially patients with acute leukaemia. When the patient is in remission, they will receive chemotherapy (a drug treatment in the form of a pill or injection in the vein, that kills the leukaemia cells. This can be a single or a combination of drugs depending on the type of leukaemia you have) as well as a bone marrow transplant. Radiation (the use of x-rays or other high energy beams to damage leukaemia cells and stop their growth) is also a treatment option for