History of Leukemia

The Greek words "Leukos" and "Heima" is nothing but Leukemia, which means white blood and it actually means excess of white blood cells in a human body. It is a type of Blood Cancer or Bone Marrow Cancer which includes a extremely great range of health diseases. The white blood cells are produced abundantly and profusely which later on causes Leukemia. Bone Marrow aids in production of blood and is called 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 die. But the person starts suffering from the deadly cancer if the old blood cells do not die and there is over production of blood cells as they start dividing at a faster pace. There is excess production of while blood cells in the bone marrow and these white blood cells are known as leukemia or leukocytes. This further results in poor immune system and weak resistance power and the person's body is unable 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 called 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

Later in the year 1970, it was discovered that leukemia can be healed. In 1970s and 1980s, 70% of the people suffering from leukemia were healed 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 many children are seen suffering from leukemia and this is regularly rising 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 therefore they are prone to this deadly cancer. Children who are breast fed properly do not fall ill and can fight against several health problems as they have a strong immune system.

The people in developing countries or industrialized countries have higher chances of getting leukemia. This is due to the fact that people in these countries are continuously exposed to harmful chemicals and smoke. They breathe injurious fumes such as benzene and formaldehyde, or exposure to atomic gases and radiations, and intake of preserved and juck food which comprise injurious artificial flavors that result in development of leukemia.

However, leukemia is curable, and several treatments like radiation, chemotherapy along with aminopterin, 6-mercaptopurin, 6-mercaptopurine are some of the effective treatments available today. The discovery of DNA helped to know the factors causing cancer with minute facts. One of the most effective treatments is bone marrow transplant. The Genetic analysis is thought the best future treatment for leukemia.

Article Source: http://www.mycontentbuilder.com

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

Please Rate this Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

Not yet Rated