Leukaemia is the cancer of the bone marrow, which is where blood cells are produced. The normal bone marrow contains immature blood cells, which then mature into red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. However, when the immature blood cells does not mature properly, they grow and multiply uncontrollably forming leukaemia cells. This interferes with normal blood cell production as resources used to produce new, functioning blood cells are wasted. At the end of their life spans, normal white blood cells are replaced by newer ones, but abnormal white blood cells can live for a long time. Leukaemia patients may suffer from low red blood cell and platelet counts, and therefore, need transfusions to provide enough blood cells for their body to function. A leukaemia patient may die due to several reasons like loss of blood as they are unable to form blood clots, or an infection due to low haemoglobin levels. One common complication that leukaemia patients suffer from is Pneumonia, which is an infection caused by aspiration. Did you know that infection alone, or, in combination was the most common cause (75%) of leukaemia patients’ deaths, followed by haemorrhage (24%) and organ failure (9%)?
There are actually 4 types of Leukaemia :
1) Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) – This is the most common type of leukaemia amongst young children. Symptoms include fever and higher risk of infection. Some symptoms of infections that they might suffer from include difficulty breathing, chest pain, coughing, vomiting and changes in bowel or bladder habits.
2) Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) – This type of leukaemia is more common among adults over 55, and men in general. Experts claim that this form of leukaemia is fatal. The leukemia cells accumulate slowly over time, allowing normal blood cell production to take place. Symptoms do not show up until years later. The leukemia cells may also spread to other parts of the body like the liver, spleen and lymph nodes.
3) Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) – Like CLL, this is also more common among adults than children. This disease advances fast, and immature, useless cells accumulate quickly in the bone marrow and blood. Leukaemia cells crowd out useful cells more quickly than in chronic leukaemia.
4) Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) - The majority of CML sufferers are adults. Chronic myelogenous leukaemia cells are slow growing leukemia but as time passes, it can become a fast-growing leukaemia that is difficult to treat.
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There are actually 4 types of Leukaemia :
1) Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) – This is the most common type of leukaemia amongst young children. Symptoms include fever and higher risk of infection. Some symptoms of infections that they might suffer from include difficulty breathing, chest pain, coughing, vomiting and changes in bowel or bladder habits.
2) Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) – This type of leukaemia is more common among adults over 55, and men in general. Experts claim that this form of leukaemia is fatal. The leukemia cells accumulate slowly over time, allowing normal blood cell production to take place. Symptoms do not show up until years later. The leukemia cells may also spread to other parts of the body like the liver, spleen and lymph nodes.
3) Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) – Like CLL, this is also more common among adults than children. This disease advances fast, and immature, useless cells accumulate quickly in the bone marrow and blood. Leukaemia cells crowd out useful cells more quickly than in chronic leukaemia.
4) Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) - The majority of CML sufferers are adults. Chronic myelogenous leukaemia cells are slow growing leukemia but as time passes, it can become a fast-growing leukaemia that is difficult to treat.
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