Leukemia is a group of cancers that develop in bone marrow and affect the blood cells. While the cause of leukemia is often unknown, exposure to benzene is a major risk factor for this type of cancer. Exposure to radiation is another known risk factor for leukemia. If you or a loved one has been exposed to benzene or radiation and subsequently developed leukemia, you may be able to seek compensation for your losses and suffering. To learn more about leukemia and your legal rights, please contact our qualified attorneys who can evaluate your case and determine the best way to help you.

 

What is leukemia?

Leukemia is actually a group of four types of blood cancers that develop in the bone marrow. White blood cells—responsible for ingesting germs, supporting the immune system, and fighting infection—grow and develop in the stem cells of the bone marrow. With leukemia, chromosomal abnormalities can occur and interfere with the normal cell division and development of white blood cells, causing them to multiply and become malignant. Leukemia cells eventually occupy the bone marrow, disrupting and preventing the development of normal blood cells. In some cases, leukemia cells may also invade the liver, spleen, testes, brain, and lymph nodes.

 

What are the four types of leukemia?

Leukemia is classified according to how quickly the cancer progresses and what type of blood cells become cancerous/malignant. Leukemia can be classified as either acute or chronic, depending on how fast the cancer progresses. Acute leukemias have blast cells and progress rapidly, while chronic leukemias have little or no blast cells and develop more slowly.

Leukemia is also classified according to what types of cells are affected. Lymphocytic leukemias involve a cancerous change in the type of bone marrow cell that makes lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that plays a crucial role in the body’s disease-fighting immune response. Myelogenous leukemias involve a cancerous change to the type of cells that develop into neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, and monocytes, which are all types of white blood cells. Leukemia can also affect the body’s ability to produce red blood cells and platelets, also made in the bone marrow.

Thus, the four types of leukemia are:

• Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)
• Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)
• Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

In some cases, a person’s leukemia can be unclassified.

 

Leukemia Statistics

According to a prominent leukemia and lymphoma society, an estimated 44,240 people will be diagnosed with leukemia in 2007. Of these cases, 40,440 will be cases of adult leukemia and 3,800 will be cases of childhood leukemia. Thus, leukemia is ten times more likely to develop in an adult than a child this year. More than 50 percent of all cases of leukemia develop in adults over the age of 67, though one-third of all cancers in children are leukemia. Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) is the most common type of childhood leukemia. Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) are the most common forms of adult leukemia.

 

Causes of Leukemia

In most cases, the exact cause of leukemia is unknown. Certain types of chemotherapy and exposure to radiation may increase the risk of leukemia, though most people who have been exposed to such elements do not develop this type of cancer. Benzene exposure has been linked to a significantly increased risk of developing leukemia. Other factors that may increase a patient’s risk of leukemia include certain genetic disorders, viruses, and tobacco smoke.

 

Symptoms of Leukemia

Early symptoms of leukemia are often the result of the body’s inability to produce normal blood cells, caused by the invasion of cancerous cells. The following may be signs of leukemia:

• Fever and/or excessive sweating. These leukemia symptoms, which may indicate infection, can be the result of a low white blood cell count.
• Easy, unexplained or excessive bleeding and/or bruising; slow healing. This type of leukemia symptom, which often occurs in the form of nosebleeds or gum bleeding, can be the result of too few platelets.
• Symptoms of anemia—weakness, fatigue, low energy, pale skin. Anemia is the result of underproduction of red blood cells, which is common in patients with leukemia.
• Aches and pains in the bones and joints. This symptom of leukemia may indicate leukemia cells in the bone marrow.
• Feeling full and/or pain in the abdomen. These symptoms of leukemia may develop when leukemia cells have invaded the spleen and liver.
• Headaches, vomiting, irritability. These signs of leukemia may develop if the cancerous cells have invaded the brain.
• Shortness of breath
• Red spots under the skin the size of a pinhead

It is important to note that not all patients who have leukemia develop some of all of these symptoms. In fact, many patients with chronic leukemia—Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) and Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)—do not exhibit symptoms of leukemia. Conversely, if a person is displaying some of these symptoms, it does not necessarily mean s/he has leukemia. If a person is displaying any of the possible symptoms of leukemia, it is important for them to seek a proper medical examination to rule out or diagnose leukemia.

 

Leukemia Diagnosis

Blood tests, such as a complete blood count (CBC), are the most common way to diagnose leukemia. In patients with leukemia, white blood cell count may be increased, normal or decreased. The number of platelets and red blood cells, however, are almost always lower than normal. A bone marrow biopsy can also be performed to confirm the diagnosis and determine the specific type of leukemia. Chromosomal analysis may also be required in order to determine the type of leukemia a patient has.

These and other tests can also be performed after a leukemia diagnosis to measure the success of treatment.

 

Leukemia treatment

The approach to leukemia treatment will often depend on the type of leukemia, the patient’s age, overall physical health, and other important factors. For each type of leukemia, there are also subtypes, which are important to determining the best way to proceed with leukemia treatment.

For patients with leukemia, it is best to seek treatment from a health care center that specializes in the treatment of leukemia.

In patients with acute leukemia, which progresses rapidly, it is important to seek medical treatment immediately. Without any treatment, patients with acute leukemia can die within weeks or months following diagnosis. In most patients with chronic leukemia, some form of treatment may be initiated right away. Doctors will often stage chronic leukemias to determine how far the cancer has progresses and its rate of progression. This can help determine the best course of treatment.

The goal of leukemia treatment is to bring about complete remission. Remission is achieved by destroying the leukemia cells, which will allow the normal healthy cells to develop again.

The following are possible leukemia treatments:

• Chemotherapy
• Blood and platelet transfusions
• Antibiotics
• Intravenous fluids
• Drug therapy
• Therapy in remission (called consolidation or post-induction therapy), often via chemotherapy
• Allogenic stem cell transplantation (aka bone marrow transplant)

Again, leukemia treatment depends on the type of leukemia and other important factors unique to the individual patient.

Fortunately, with advances in medicine, patients have a higher rate of surviving leukemia today than in the past. In fact, the five-year survival rate has more than tripled in the last fifty years for patients with leukemia. Leukemia prognosis depends on the patient’s age, gender, overall health, and type of leukemia.

 

Have you or a loved one developed Leukemia?

If you or a loved one has developed leukemia after chronic exposure to benzene, radiation, or some other possible carcinogen, you may be able to seek compensation for your losses and suffering. For more leukemia information and to learn about your legal rights and options, please contact the qualified and experienced leukemia attorneys at Oshman & Mirisola today.