| Leukemia is a cancerous disease caused by abnormal | | | | acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and chronic |
| activity of stem cells (immature cells that originate in | | | | lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Acute myelogenous |
| the bone marrow). There are two main types of | | | | leukemia accounts for more than 10.000 new cases |
| leukemia – myelogenous and lymphocytic | | | | each year, while chronic lymphocytic leukemia is |
| (according to the type of cells involved), which can be | | | | responsible for causing around 8.000 new annual |
| further classified in two categories - acute and chronic. | | | | cases. |
| Acute leukemia is characterized by the rapid | | | | Leukemia has the highest incidence in the male gender. |
| multiplication of partially developed, functionless cells. | | | | Statistics indicate that more than 56 percent of annual |
| These abnormal cells accumulate inside the bone | | | | leukemia cases are diagnosed in men. Although it can |
| marrow or in the blood stream, interfering with the | | | | be seen in all ethnical groups, leukemia predominantly |
| activity of normal, healthy cells. People with acute | | | | affects Caucasian white people. The annual incidence |
| leukemia also suffer from anemia, which is caused by | | | | of leukemia is lower in African Americans, while |
| a pronounced decrease in the number of red blood | | | | American Indians and Hispanics rarely develop the |
| cells. Leukemia sufferers also have a deficit of healthy | | | | disease. Similarly, leukemia is rarely seen in Asian |
| white cells, which have a vital role in fighting against | | | | people. |
| infections. In addition, acute leukemia affects the body's | | | | The most common type of leukemia among children |
| production of platelets, which have an important role in | | | | aged 3-15 is acute lymphocytic leukemia. Due to the |
| blood coagulation (they speed up the healing of open | | | | fact that acute lymphocytic leukemia predominantly |
| wounds). | | | | affects children, it is referred to as childhood leukemia. |
| Chronic leukemia also causes serious impairments at | | | | Childhood leukemia rarely affects children younger than |
| cellular level, triggering an overproduction of abnormal | | | | 3 or with ages over 15. Despite the fact that modern |
| cells. However, unlike acute leukemia, chronic forms of | | | | medicine doesn't hold the cure for childhood leukemia, |
| the disease allow the affected cells to reach more | | | | the medical treatments and therapies available |
| advanced stages of development. Thus, chronic | | | | nowadays can slow down the progression of the |
| leukemia has a slower rate of progression. | | | | disease and in some cases, they can even overcome |
| The annual prevalence of leukemia among the | | | | leukemia completely. The annual morbidity rate of |
| population of the United States is around 31.000 new | | | | leukemia among young patients has known a |
| cases. Leukemia has the highest incidence in older | | | | considerable decrease in the last two decades. |
| adults, commonly affecting people with ages over 60. | | | | Thanks to modern medical equipment, leukemia can be |
| However, there are certain types of leukemia that | | | | timely diagnosed, allowing prompt medical intervention. |
| predominantly affect children. For instance, acute | | | | Nowadays, early diagnosis and new approaches in |
| lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is responsible for causing | | | | medical treatment can considerably extend patients' |
| more than 80 percent of overall childhood leukemia | | | | life-expectancy, thus increasing the chances of |
| cases. | | | | complete recovery. |
| In adults, the most common types of leukemia are | | | | |