Thursday, May 28, 2009

What is Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia?

By Sophia Amsterdine

A derived genetic condition, acute lymphocytic leukemia or ALL from the overproduction and multiplication of destructive white blood cells in the bone marrow. Acute lymphocytic leukemia develops when these cells multiply, ultimately leading to the decline of the body's good health. It may even result in death, or spread to the other parts of the body.

This particular form of cancer is most common in children and young adults and the effects can vary depending upon the age of the victim and the time of the diagnosis. Acute lymphocytic leukemia can peak in children between the ages of four and five and another peak was recently discovered in the elderly.

The Effects of ALL

Acute lymphocytic leukemia places a burden on patients financially, emotionally and physically. Some of the most prevalent effects of ALL are the inhibition of the production of normal cells (which results in insufficient white and red blood cells from entering the bloodstream), and the unstoppable accumulation & growth of cells also known as lymphoblasts.

Acute lymphocytic leukemia may include the following symptoms:

*Painful joints

*Breathlessness

*Reoccurence of infections

*Easy bleeding and slow healing of wounds

Diagnosis of the Illness

Acute lymphocytic leukemia's symptoms are so common, which is the reason why the first steps of a patient's diagnosis begins with a physical examination and carefully getting the patient's medical history. In the course of the diagnosis, generally the patient's case is worse when the white blood cell count is higher.

In 90 percent of cases, blast cells are found through a blood smear and a bone marrow biopsy has also proven to be an effective way of determining whether or not someone has been inflicted with acute lymphocytic leukemia.

Treatment of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

Children who are afflicted with ALL are presented with various treatment options. Chemotherapy is the main treatment present.

Treatment varies with the specifics of the patient. A variety of drugs are used to treat children with this illness and are administered over a period of two to three years. This extended treatment time requires high level of skill and expertise from the doctors dealing with these cases.

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