Leukemia Information

Leukemia is a very scary word and it carries with it the connotation of terminal illness, cancer, and death. This is a great misconception and in many cases, can be completely cured. Reliable leukemia information can be found on a number of sites on the internet, most of which provide leukemia facts in an easy to understand layman’s terms. As we all know, sometimes all that medical terminology can be confusing, which just adds to the frustration and development of misconceptions. Leukemia information should be clear and easy to read, which makes it easy to share with others as well. These sites also serve as great resources for anyone seeking leukemia information for group presentations, research papers, or because they have a loved one affected and they want to learn more.

Let’s begin with some basic leukemia information according to the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center at www.cancer.med.umich.edu. Leukemia is a disorder of the tissues where blood cells are formed, in particular, bone marrow. White blood cells are the infection fighters in the body, and when the normal production of these cells is decreased because of the production of abnormal or immature cells, infection occurs and the immune system fails to function properly. Because of this malfunction, the formation of healthy red blood cells and platelets is also affected, which both play important roles. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body, and platelets are an integral part of the clotting mechanism. Leukemia can be either chronic or acute, the latter diagnosed most often in children. There is no one single cause of leukemia, and in many cases the cause is unknown.

Information on leukemia discusses the different classifications of the disorder, as well as various treatment options such as bone marrow transplants and chemotherapy. These treatment options are usually very effective in treating acute and chronic leukemia. Bone marrow donors must be a blood relative and can only be performed while the leukemia is in its earliest stages or during remission. Chemotherapy is most often prescribed as first line therapy in acute cases of the disorder, and is used in chronic leukemia too. The diagnosis of leukemia can be scary; leukemia information provides the knowledge that is needed to educate patients and families to lessen the fear of the unknown. More leukemia information can be found at www.meds.com/leukemia, www.cancer.org, www.leukemiainformation.com, www.cancercenter.com/leukemia, or any number of other sites dedicated to providing reliable information on this blood disorder.