Leukemia or Blood Cancer

Leukemia or blood cancer is a type of cancer which affects the blood cells. This type of cancer is the most common cancer in children.

This is a result of abnormal cell growth and multiplication. Leukemia or blood cancer affects the white blood cells.

As known the cells are the building blocks of the body, which normally repair and reproduce in a controlled process.

This is the normal process but with cancer, the cells divide and grow in an uncontrolled way instead of the normal growth. This leads to development of abnormal cells and tumors.

The body is made up of many different types of cells, such as skin, nerve, muscle and blood cells. In leukemia or blood cancer, the bone marrow starts producing many white blood cells meaning the increased production of white blood cells happen and these instead of working normally behave in a different manner.

Normally these cells should die off after a certain period of time but instead they grow rapidly and multiply than the normal cells to make the condition fatal. They happen to accumulate in the white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets.

Due to this many health problems arise which include, anemia, weakness or fatigue and the clotting process is triggered. These conditions are totally because of the abnormality in the red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets respectively. The overall immune system of the person is weakened making way to infections and other health problems.

The above procedure is well explained as some blood cells do not grow properly, but remain within the bone marrow and continue to reproduce in an uncontrolled way. These cells fill up the bone marrow and prevent it from making healthy white blood cells. This means the body is less able to fight off infections.

The bone marrow is also able to make other types of blood cells, such as red blood cells and platelets. Problems can result from a reduction in number of these cells. For example, a lack of red blood cells leads to anaemia, which can result in breathlessness and fatigue. A lack of platelets can lead to problems with the blood-clotting system, resulting in bruising.

Causes of Leukemia or Blood Cancer

Research still goes on to find out as to what is the exact cause of leukemia or blood cancer as till date experts do not know what causes blood cancer. They do not always know why some people get it and others do not.

Studies reveal that certain risk factors may be responsible for causing the leukemia or blood cancer. A risk factor is anything that raises the chance of getting a disease. Any earlier exposure to radiation in large amounts or either be treated by chemotherapy drugs may hype the chances of developing the disease.

Occupational hazards such as being exposed to certain chemicals and smoking, use of tobacco also are the risk factors for this disease.

Surprisingly it is found that most people who get leukemia or blood cancer do not have any risk factors. Leukemia or blood cancer does not usually run in families. But in very rare cases this can happen with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).