What Is Leukemia? Essays

Cancer, a long and difficult journey assimilated with death. Cancer, in general, is when cells begin to grow out of control and can start anywhere in the body. There are many different forms and types of cancer; scary but true. All forms of cancer is terrifying, but the most terrifying for children is Leukemia. Leukemia is the most common form of cancer in children and teens. It zones in on blood-forming cells, mainly white blood cells, in the bone marrow. This form of cancer accounts for almost one out of three cancers (Leukemia in Children). Why, in my opinion, this is the most intimidating form of cancer is because it takes the lives of the young who had so much potential and barely began to live their own lives. It takes those who are

Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that numerous individuals around the world suffer from; it is an intellectual disability that is caused by having one too many chromosome 21 copies, trisomy 21. The average person has two copies of chromosome 21 in each cell, whereas, an individual with Down syndrome has an extra copy of chromosome 21. This happens when either the sperm or egg cell undergoes atypical cell division during development. In the United States, there are approximately 400,000 individuals who have been diagnosed with Down syndrome, according to the last census in 2012 (National Down Syndrome Society).

* According to the American Cancer Society (2013) states, “A risk factor is anything that affects your chance of getting a disease such as cancer” (American Cancer Society, 2013). “There are a few known risk factors for childhood leukemia” (American Cancer Society, 2013). According to the American Cancer Society (2013) states, “Genetic risk factors are those that are part of our DNA (the substance that makes up our genes)” (American Cancer Society, 2013). The genetic risk factor is what we get from our parents that is most of the time inherited (American Cancer Society, 2013). “Most cases of leukemia are not linked to any known genetic causes” (American Cancer Society, 2013).

There are three types of Down syndrome trisomy 21 (nondisjunction), translocation and mosaicism. Trisomy 21 is caused by an error in cell division which is called nondisjunction. Nondisjunction results when the embryo gets three copies of chromosome 21 instead of two. This usually occurs at or prior to conception, a pair of 21st chromosomes in either the sperm or the eggs fails to separate. Since this occurs so early on, the extra chromosome is then replicated in every cell of the body. This type of Down syndrome accounts for 95% of cases (“What”). Translocation accounts for about 4% of cases. In this types the total number of chromosomes in the cells remain 46, but an additional full or partial copy of chromosome 21 attaches to another chromosome

Answer: The most common form of Down syndrome is known as Trisomy 21, a condition where individuals have 47 chromosomes in each cell instead of 46. This is caused by an error in cell division called nondisjunction, which leaves a sperm or egg cell with an extra copy of chromosome 21 before or at conception. To the genes when the cell division occurs is when the extra chromosome goes to find a cell and attaches

Leukemia is cancerous disease that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow and causes large numbers of blood cells to be produced and enter the blood-stream (National Cancer Institute, 2008, para. 1). It is one of many complicated cancer diseases that affect all ages and have very negative outcomes if not treated properly, and on time. Within the disease are several different types that affect according to how quickly the disease develops and attacks the body. It could be classified as chronic leukemia, which has a slow progress of getting worse or acute leukemia which usually gets worse quickly. The types of leukemia also can be grouped based on the white blood cell that is affected (National Cancer Institute , 2008, p. 1).

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is slow-progressing or “chronic”, cancer of the blood and bone marrow. CLL is the second most common leukemia in adults and one of the four primary types of leukemia. Certain risk factors have been identified including age, race, sex, family history of blood and bone marrow cancers and chemical exposure. Most people diagnosed with CLL are white males over the age of 60. Occurrence increases with age and a marked increase after 60. Herbicides, insecticides and Agent Orange used in the Vietnam War have shown to increase the risk of developing CLL. There are approximately 15,000 new cases diagnosed each year.

Leukemia is a cancer that affects the bone marrow. The bon marrow is the soft spongy center of the bone that produces blood cells. Leukemia is found in white blood cells or leukocytes. The white blood cells help to fight ff infections and other diseases. Normally, cells produce in an orderly way, but people that have leukemia the cell production gets out of control. The marrow produces too many immature white blood cells called blasts. They are differently shaped and can’t carry out their usual duties.

Down syndrome is one of the most common genetic disorders in the United States with 1 out of close to every 700 births being linked to the disorder. When identifying the cause of Down syndrome, again we have to look at the extra, very important part of chromosome 21 that occurs in all or some associated with Down syndrome. Although there is no real scientific research showing that Down syndrome is caused by environmental factors or even the parents ' activities before or during pregnancy, research has shown that it increases in

Down syndrome is caused by a person having three copies of chromosome 21 instead of two copies. Down syndrome is also known by another name called trisomy 21. In the picture above it shows a genetic analysis of a person with down syndrome. If you notice in the picture there are 2 sets of chromosome except for the 21st chromosome set there is a pair of three. This is important to notice because chromosome sets are supposed to be in sets of two. It's a fact that the three chromosomes in set 21 are what causes down syndrome. Every cell in a person with down syndrome will contain 47 chromosomes instead of 46 chromosomes. “There are many theories that may be the cause of having an extra cell to react inside the chromosome that causes down syndrome

In a healthy person their blood is made up of fluid called plasma and it has three different types of cells. Each cell has a function. The spongy center of bones is referred to as the bone marrow and this is where those blood cells are formed. White blood cells, which can also be referred to as leukocytes, help the body fight infections and they also fight other diseases. Red blood cells, which can also be

Down syndrome is a genetic disorder in which a person is born with an extra copy of chromosome 21. There are three genetic variations that cause Down syndrome: Trisomy 21, Mosaic Trisomy 21 or Translocation Trisomy 21. There are many ways in which theses disorders affect the body.  Trisomy 21 occurs when an egg or sperm comes in with an extra copy of chromosome 21, then, once an embryo is formed and starts to develop, the chromosome is replicated in every single cell of the embryo. Trisomy 21 is the most common type of Down syndrome. About 92% of Down syndrome patients have this type. People with Trisomy usually have physical problems.

Leukemia An estimated 1,129,813 people in the United States are living with, or are in remission from some type of blood cancer. Of those 1.1 million Americans, 310,046 are, or were previously diagnosed with, leukemia (“Facts and Statistics”). Leukemia is a type of blood cancer that affects the body’s blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system (Mayo Clinic Staff). Blood is essential to the human body in that it carries the necessary amounts of fuel and oxygen throughout the body, aids in the fighting of disease and infection, and regulates body temperature, among many other crucial tasks.

Each year, it is estimated that approximately 50,000 people globally will be diagnosed with leukemia, and they will have a 58.5% chance of survival in the next 5 years (National Cancer Institute, 2015). Leukemia is a group of cancers that originate from bone marrow and create cancerous blood cells that overcrowd healthy blood cells within the bone marrow. (National Cancer Institute, 2014). Compared to other types of cancer, leukemia is considered to be relatively rare (National Cancer Institute, 2015). Despite this, leukemia is unlike other cancers due to the fact that there are over a dozen different types of leukemia (Swierzewski, 1999), with each type having specific symptoms depending on the type of blood cell that is cancerous. In response to this fact, identifying how leukemia is caused and how it affects cancer development has been a topic undergoing intense research. In regards to the cancer stem cell theory, studies have isolated potential leukemic stem cells which are suggestive of why cancer cells proliferate (Reya et al. 2001). Subsequently, it is necessary to understand how leukemia is caused, the symptoms associated with this disease, and the potential treatments for those who are currently afflicted.

There is no particular cause of this disease. It mainly occurs due to the mutation occurring in the genes. Some type of mutation can activate leukemia by putting off the tumour suppressor genes. In this way, they subdue the working of the cells and various functions like cell division, death and differentiation. Such mutations or changes occur in the genes when the body is exposed to some sorts of cancer causing substances or radiation.