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 form of Blood Cancer or Bone Marrow Cancer which includes an enormously huge range of health problems. During this condition, there is excess and abnormal production and growth of while blood cells. Bone Marrow assists in production of blood and is termed as blood factory of the body. In Bone marrow, the blood cells divide to form new blood cells. The old blood cells are reinstated by new blood cells, which means the old blood cells die. However, if the old blood cells do not die and divide at a faster rate thereby causing overproduction of blood cells, this leads to deadly disease called cancer. There is excess production of while blood cells in the bone marrow and these white blood cells are known as leukemia or leukocytes. This further results in weak immune system and weak 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 legally discovered leukemia in 1845 in Edinburgh. Then in the 19th century when most of the European scientists discovered that there were several patients who were suffering from excess white blood cells in their bodies, which were produced excessively and over-abundantly. They termed it as "weisses blut" which means white blood.
Then in the year 1913, leukemia was categorized into 4 main groups:
Then in the year 1970, it was discovered that leukemia can be healed. In 1970s and 1980s, 70% of the people suffering from leukemia were healed 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.
Today several kids are seen suffering from leukemia and this is continuously rising rapidly. The major reason for this problem is that these children are not breastfed enough so they have weak immune system. Their resistance against most of diseases is very low and hence 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 inhale injurious gases like benzene and formaldehyde, or exposure to atomic gases and radiations, and consumption of preserved and juck food which comprise injurious artificial flavors that result in development of leukemia.
Today, leukemia can be successfully treated as there are several effective treatments like radiation, chemotherapy along with aminopterin, 6-mercaptopurin, 6-mercaptopurine. The discovery of DNA assisted to know the factors causing cancer with greater details. One of the most effective treatments is bone marrow transplant. The Genetic analysis is considered the finest future treatment for leukemia.
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Know more about history of leukemia and leukemia family history at theleukemiaguide.com