what is the etiologic factor for acute leukemia?
88154
There are a number of different kinds of acute leukemias, starting with the acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALL) and acute myelogenous leukemias (AML).  In either case, there is not usually a documented etiologic factor.  \n\nRadiation is considered a possible factor in AML development.  Benzene exposure has also been suggested to be a risk factor, and other toxins as well. \n\nChronic bone marrow diseases may lead to acute leukemias as well.  And there is some suggestion that viral infections may play a role.  In addition, there are genetic factors that may increase susceptibility to acute leukemias.\n\nAgain, none of these factors has been proven- and that makes it difficult for patients who might be wondering, "Why?!".  When my mother was diagnosed with AML several years ago, she agonized over whether radon exposure might have been involved.  And my aunt, an organic food fanatic, was convinced my mother got leukemia because her eating habits were not the best.  The truth is, we don't know what caused it.
266433
Leukocytes are more commonly referred to as white blood cells. A high level of white blood cells can mean there is some type of infection in your body that they are trying to eradicate, or in extremely high levels that last for a long time, it can mean leukemia. Hope this helps.
70518
Keep in mind that you can divide this into 4 types based on either being: Acute / Chronic and Lymphocytic / Myeloid.  Chronic Myeloid Leukemia is basically one kind of leukemia with only one genetic mistake that causes disease.  The others are very heterogeneous in terms of genetic events and thus will require different therapies.\n\nThe future for treating leukemias involves 2 parts.  The first is studying what molecules inside the cell are overexpressed, and thus driving leukemia cell growth, or are necessary for cell signaling that drive leukemia growth and survival.  Drugs are being developed that can inhibit the activity of these molecules.  Most can be categorized as Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors.  These drugs end in "ib" such as Imatinib that is used for CML.\n\nThe other category of treatments involve monoclonal antibodies.  These are mass produced from a single antibody producing mouse B cell (mono clonal) and usually modifed to make the antibody more human like to prevent allergic reactions.  The antibody may be useful if there is a protein on the surface of the leukemia that is not found in great amounts on other cells.  Infusing the monoclonal antibodies help the bodies own immune system kill the targets. Since there has been no tumor-specific marker discovered yet, the doctors must be careful in how these antibodies are used since they can cause more damage to normal cells than to the leukemia cells.  The antibodies end in "mab" and a good example is Rituximab.
479522
Cancer is a cell that's messed up and multiplying\ngenerally speaking the risks of cancer increase with age, there are some leukemias that are more common in the very young people (Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia most common under age 19) and some that are more common in older people (Acute Myelogenous Leukemia is more often in adults over 40)\nthis website http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/hm_lls is pretty good at talking about leukemia and lymphoma.\n\nand if you and anyone else has the signs or symptoms go see a dr, because anyone at any age can get leukemia or lymphoma
205490
Leukemia is an abnormal increase in whiteblood cells.\nBut there is not enough white blood cells that actually fight infection\nUsually accompanied by fatigue and weakness and anemia\n\nA good explanation from a site:\n\nIn a healthy person, the bone marrow makes the blood-forming cells that turn into the white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets in the blood. An ALL patient's marrow makes too many blast cells (immature white blood cells). These blast cells should turn into the white blood cells called lymphocytes, but they do not. So many blast cells grow that the marrow does not have room to make the normal red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. This causes these symptoms of ALL:\n\n\nAnemia -- feeling tired, short of breath and looking pale, caused by too few red blood cells \nBruising easily and having cuts that heal slowly or not at all, caused by too few platelets \nHaving frequent infections, especially of the skin or ear, caused by too few normal white blood cells
861331
radiation tends to reduce it\nbacterial infection increases it\nand with chemo, it depends; 'poison'-type chemo reduces it, but 'immuno-'type chemo actually increases it ( and the white blood cells are coaxed into attacking the cancer cells.
1092042
no\nAB + A will result in A,B,or AB type blood  O can not be a factor
321170
Leukocytes are White Blood Cells.
743445
Leukemia (or leukaemia) is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal proliferation of blood cells, usually white blood cells (leukocytes). It is part of the broad group of diseases called hematological neoplasms.Damage to the bone marrow, by way of displacing the normal marrow cells with increasing numbers of malignant cells, results in a lack of blood platelets, which are important in the blood clotting process. This means people with leukemia may become bruised, bleed excessively, or develop pinprick bleeds (petechiae).\n\nWhite blood cells, which are involved in fighting pathogens, may be suppressed or dysfunctional, putting the patient at the risk of developing infections.\n\nForyour information I am giving the causes for getting this disease-\nNo one knows what causes leukemia. Researchers have strong suspicions about four possible causes. They are radiation, chemicals, viruses, and genetic factors. Leukemia, like other cancers, result from somatic mutations in the DNA which activate oncogenes or deactivate tumor suppressor genes, and disrupt the regulation of cell death, differentiation or division. These mutations may occur spontaneously or as a result of exposure to radiation or carcinogenic substances and are likely to be influenced by genetic factors. Cohort and case control studies have linked exposure to petrochemicals, such as benzene, and hair dyes to the development of leukemia.\n\nViruses have also been linked to some forms of leukemia. Certain cases of ALL are associated with viral infections by either the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, responsible for AIDS) or human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV-1 and -2, causing adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma).-
133211
I'm not sure about treatment, but for info check out the leukemia and lymphoma society. Also, there are several books written on it, so check your local library. I don't remember the names of any of them, but some of them were pretty easy to understand.
844380
possibly leukemia?  I know it can cause extreme weakness and bruising/pain.  It doesn't sound normal and you should get there ASAP.  Stuff like leukemia has high remission rates.
1029782
I see your point. Its hilarious! People will answer freewill. My retort, do you get a  cancer like leukemia by freewill? Great point!
955402
Real-time polymerase chain reaction (detecting a fusion gene may provide differential diagnosis in certain leukemias).\nAutomated fluorescent in situ hybridization (same as above)\n\nBut I believe you've meant something else. I am not aware of any automated diagnostic algorithm softwares, and there shouldn't be any. Be aware of technologic tenesmus! Use your mind!
723685
There isn't just one cause for cancer and that is one of the reasons it is so difficult to eradicate. Anyone, at any age from fetus to the elderly can get cancer, so it is more than environmental or stress or anything that mere humans have control over. It is very easy to blame the enrironment or the patient for 'getting cancer', but it is not quite that simple.\n\nFor example, my son has a rare abdominal sarcoma with no known cause . . it is considered a childhood cancer because of the primitive nature of the cancer cells. There are some unusual features to this cancer, it is almost predominately boys in the second decade of life who are affected. Why? Why would a cancer predominately affect young boys? It may be genetic (no conclusive evidence to prove this, and no connection between the patients) or it may have to do with hormones or testosterone, since the cancer presents itself during 'growth spurts'. But, we really do not know. Another oddity about the cancer is that it shares the genetic features of two other childhood cancers . . in other words it is a chimeric cancer . . it melded two other forms of cancer into a new cancer. Which may indicate that cancer has the ability to change and transform.\n\nI do not believe that there is anything anyone can do to totally prevent cancer at this point. Remaining healthy by eating properly and exercising will give you the strenght to fight a cancer, but I don't think it will prevent it. Cutting back on addictions such as smoking, drinking, and other unhealthy lifestyles helps also. Still . . people who have never smoked a day in their life can develop lung cancer. A fetus can develop cancer in the womb. Month old babies can die from cancer. No age group, sex, or race  is immune.\n\nThe best prevention is probably to become aware of your own body and if your a parent, the signs of cancer in children. Examine your body, teach your children to become aware of their bodies, look for changes, or spots, and report any suspicious lumps or bumps immediately. Parents should learn to listen to their children and recongnize the warning signs. The family doctor also needs to be brought up to speed on recognizing the early signs of cancer. Early detection is the best prevention that we have at the moment.
815099
Some neoplasms (including cancers) are caused by viruses - think HPV - which are transmittable. Although that's not spreading 'cancer' as such.\n\nIn theory, were a cancerous cell which had broken off a tumor on it's way to metastasise somewhere else to happen to be drawn up into a needle and that cell were to be transferred in a needlestick injury (which is unbelievably rare to say the least - needlesticks aren't as dangerous as people might think) and that cell were to not be clobbered by the host immune system as soon as it entered the second person and that cell were to settle somewhere with a blood supply enabling to mitose then yes, cancer is transmittable.\n\nI just wouldn't place any bets on it happening.
315577
this might help\nhttp://www.marrow.org/cgi-bin/NETWORK/center.pl?ctr_typ=TC&state=Alaska&st_abbr=AK
571845
The cause of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is unknown. The incidence of NHL has continued to increase over the years. It may be caused by a genetic factor and may require a "trigger," such as exposure to something in the environment, to develop. NHL is not contagious and is not caused by injury.\n\nHope this helps!