Leukemia is derived from the Greek word "Leukos" and "Heima" which is White Blood and it actually means extra white blood cells in a person's body. It is a sort of Blood Cancer or Bone Marrow Cancer which includes an enormously great range of health problems. During this condition, there is excess and abnormal production and growth of while blood cells. Bone Marrow aids in production of blood and is called as blood factory of the body. Here the blood cells divide and form new blood cells. The old blood cells are replaced by new blood cells, which implies the old blood cells are worn out. 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. And person suffering from leukemia experience large production of white blood cells in the bone marrow called leukemia cells or leukocytes. This further results in weak immune system and poor resistance power and the patient's body is not in a condition 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. Later on, in the 19th century, many European scientists found out that there were some people who suffered from abnormal and excess production of white blood cells. 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 Then in the year 1970, it was discovered that leukemia can be cured. In 1970s and 1980s, 70% of the people suffering from leukemia were cured which was a new ray of hope for leukemia patients. Yet people don't realize which disease they are actually suffering from and which disease are they fighting with. Now-a-days most of the kids are seen suffering from leukemia and this is regularly growing 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 diseases is quite low and thus they are prone to this deadly cancer. Breastfeeding helps your child develop a strong immune system thereby helping them to fight against various infections during childhood. The individuals in developing nations or industrialized countries have greater chances of getting leukemia. Ususally people living in such developing nations, are often exposed to harmful chemicals and fumes. They breathe dangerous gases like benzene and formaldehyde, or contact to atomic gases and radiations, and consumption of preserved and fast food which contain injurious artificial flavors that lead to 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 assisted to know the factors causing cancer with greater details. Bone marrow transplant is highly effective treatment that has helped several leukemia patients. The Genetic analysis is thought the excellent future treatment for leukemia. Know more about history of leukemia and leukemia family history at theleukemiaguide.com
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