What is Leukemia?
-Leukemia is a type of blood cancer
-In a person with leukemia, the bone marrow produces abnormal white blood cells. These abnormal cells are leukemia cells.
-Unlike normal blood cells, leukemia cells don't die when they should. They may crowd out normal white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. This makes it hard for normal blood cells to do their work.
Leukemia
-Most blood cells develop from cells in the bone marrow (soft material in the center of most bones) called stem cells.
-Stem cells can mature into different types of white blood cells.
-First, a stem cell matures into either a myeloid stem cell or a lymphoid stem cell
-A myeloid stem cell matures into a myeloid blast. The blast can form a red blood cell, platelets, or one of several types of white blood cells.
-A lymphoid stem cell matures into a lymphoid blast. The blast can form one of several types of white blood cells, such as B cells or T cells.
-The white blood cells that form from myeloid blasts are different from the white blood cells that form from lymphoid blasts.
-The types of leukemia can be grouped based on how quickly the disease develops and gets worse.
-Leukemia is either chronic (which usually gets worse slowly) or acute (which usually gets worse quickly)
-In the early stages of disease, the leukemia cells can still do some of the work of normal white blood cells.
-People may not have any symptoms at first. Doctors often find chronic leukemia during a routine checkup - before there are any symptoms.
-Slowly, chronic leukemia gets worse.
-As the number of leukemia cells in the blood increases, people get symptoms, such as swollen lymph nodes or infections.
-When symptoms do appear, they are usually mild at first and get worse gradually.
Chronic leukemia
-The leukemia cells can't do any of the work of normal white blood cells.
-The number of leukemia cells increases rapidly.
-Acute leukemia usually worsens quickly.
Acute leukemia
-Leukemia can start in lymphoid cells or myeloid cells.
-Leukemia that affects lymphoid cells is called lymphoid, lymphocytic, or lymphoblastic leukemia.
-Leukemia that affects myeloid cells is called myeloid, myelogenous, or myeloblastic leukemia.
Types of leukemia based on the type of white blood cell affected
.There are four common types of leukemia:
-Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
-Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
-Acute lymphocytic (lymphoblastic) leukemia (ALL)
-Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
.Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
-Affects lymphoid cells and usually grows slowly
-Most often, people diagnosed with the disease are over age 55
-It usually never affects children
.Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
-Affects myeloid cells and usually grows slowly at first
-It mainly affects adults
.Acute lymphocytic (lymphoblastic) leukemia (ALL)
-Affects lymphoid cells and grows quickly
- The most common type of leukemia in young children
-It also affects adults
-Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
-Affects myeloid cells and grows quickly
-It occurs in both adults and children
.Hairy cell leukemia
- A rare type of leukemia in which abnormal B-lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) are present in the bone marrow, spleen, and peripheral blood.
-When viewed under a microscope, these cells appear to be covered with tiny hair-like projections.
Ependymoma:
-The tumor arises from cells that line the ventricles or the central canal of the spinal cord.
-It's most commonly found in children and young adults.
-It can be grade I, II, or III.
Brain stem glioma:
-The tumor occurs in the lowest part of the brain.
-It can be a low-grade or high-grade tumor.
-The most common type is diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma .
.The area just inside the nostrils is called the nasal vestibule. A small area of special cells in the roof of each nasal passage sends signals to the brain to give the sense of smell.
.Together the paranasal sinuses and the nasal cavity filter and warm the air, and make it moist before it goes into the lungs.
.The movement of air through the sinuses and other parts of the respiratory system help make sounds for talking.
-A rare cancer that forms in tissues of a salivary gland. Most salivary gland cancers occur in older people.
-The salivary glands make saliva and release it into the mouth. Saliva has enzymes that help digest food and antibodies that help protect against infections of the mouth and throat.
-More than half of all salivary gland tumors are benign (not cancerous) and do not spread to other tissues
There are 3 pairs of major salivary glands:
-Parotid glands: These are the largest salivary glands and are found in front of and just below each ear. Most major salivary gland tumors begin in this gland.
-Sublingual glands: These glands are found under the tongue in the floor of the mouth.
-Submandibular glands: These glands are found below the jawbone.
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