History Of Leukemia

By Author: Jamie Hanson
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Leukemia is derived from the Greek word "Leukos" and "Heima" which is White Blood and it actually means extra white blood cells in a person's body. It is a type of Blood Cancer or Bone Marrow Cancer which encompasses an abundantly wide range of health problems. The white blood cells are produced abundantly and profusely which later on causes Leukemia. Bone Marrow aids in production of blood and is termed as blood factory of the body. In Bone marrow, the blood cells divide to form new blood cells. The old blood cells are reinstated by new blood cells, which implies the old blood cells are worn out. However, if the old blood cells do not die and divide at a faster rate thereby causing overproduction of blood cells, this leads to deadly disease called cancer. And person suffering from leukemia experience large production of white blood cells in the bone marrow called leukemia cells or leukocytes. This further leads to poor immune system and low resistance power and the person's body is incapable to fight infections easily.

Greeks were the first people to discover this blood disease in the 14th or 15th century. But John ...
... Hughes Benett was the first person to officially discovered leukemia in 1845 in Edinburgh. Then in the 19th century when most of the European scientists discovered that there were several patients who were suffering from excess white blood cells in their bodies, which were produced excessively and over-abundantly. They termed it as "weisses blut" which means white blood.

Soon in the year 1913, leukemia was grouped into 4 main groups:

1. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
2. Chronic myelogenous leukemia
3. Acute lymphocytic leukemia
4. (Erythroleukemia)-Acute myelogenous leukemia

Then in the year 1970, it was found out that leukemia can be cured. In 1970s and 1980s, 70% of the people suffering from leukemia were cured which was a new ray of hope for leukemia patients. Till date, people are fighting against cancer, but they are not yet sure against which disease are they fighting with.

Now-a-days several kids are seen suffering from leukemia and this is continuously increasing quickly. The major reason for this problem is that these children are not breastfed enough so they have weak immune system. Their resistance against several health disorders is very low and hence they are prone to this deadly cancer. Breastfeeding helps your child develop a strong immune system thereby helping them to fight against various infections during childhood.

The individuals in developing countries or industrialized nations have higher chances of getting leukemia. Ususally people living in such developing nations, are often exposed to harmful chemicals and fumes. They inhale harmful gases such as benzene and formaldehyde, or contact to atomic gases and radiations, and consumption of preserved and processed food which include harmful artificial flavors which lead to development of leukemia.

Today, leukemia can be successfully treated as there are several effective treatments like radiation, chemotherapy along with aminopterin, 6-mercaptopurin, 6-mercaptopurine. The discovery of DNA aided to know the factors causing cancer with deep details. Bone marrow transplant is highly effective treatment that has helped several leukemia patients. The Genetic analysis is considered the finest future treatment for leukemia.

Know more about history of leukemia and leukemia family history at theleukemiaguide.com