Thursday, June 4, 2009

Acute Myelogenous Leukemia: The Most Common Form of Leukemia

By Laurette Langerstein

Acute myelogenous leukemia or AML is a type of cancer that targets the blood and the bone marrow. The blood cells inside the human body are composed of platelets called red blood cells and white blood cells. AML patients have a lack sufficient amounts of red or white blood cells; in some cases the said cells materialize at an abnormal or uncontrollably rapid pace, which results in the illness progressing and developing inside the human body.

Current statistics show that in the USA, approximately 11,900 new cases of acute myelogenous leukemia are being diagnosed each year. Studies also indicate that acute myelogenous leukemia is not contagious or genetic; it usually results from exposure to the chemical benzene. Research further indicates that 65 is the average age of a person suffering from AML.

Benzene Exposure

Benzene is a chemical compound that has high flammable properties, and is an established carcinogen. Benzene is a significant solvent used in industrial purposes, used in the production of plastic, certain drugs/medications and rubber; however its role in gasoline manufacturing has already been limited. Various cancer types, along with acute myelogenous leukemia, have been associated to exposure to benzene.

The health problems that may result from exposure to benzene are:

*Leukemia and other forms of cancer

*Anemia develops

*Confusion and dizziness

*Immune system functioning below normal

Symptoms of AML

Patients who suffer from acute myelogenous leukemia are commonly unaware that they have been exposed to benzene. This is exposure often occurs through accidental ingestion or inhalation due to the nature of their work, or in their immediate surroundings. Benzene exposure over a prolonged period of time can result to acute myelogenous leukemia and other fatal diseases, which are sadly oftentimes diagnosed too late for the fatal end-results to be reversed.

Patients who have acute myelogenous leukemia experience the following symptoms:

*Painful bones or joints

*shortness of breath and fatigue

*Reccuring infections

*Abdomen swells

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