| What Is Acute Myelogenous Leukemia? |
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| Monday, 03 November 2008 20:43 |
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Acute myelogenous leukemia (know as AML, acute myeloid leukemia or acute nonlymphocytic leukemia) is a blood cancer that develops in specific types of white blood cells (granulocytes or monocytes). White blood cells are used by the body to fight infections. The blood cells affected granulocytes and monocytes, are created from stem cells (hematopoietic stem cells that will turn into different blood cells). These cells have the ability to develop into different kinds of blood cells. These blood-stem cells originate in a person's bone marrow which creates blood cells. What Happens? Granulocytes. The Granulocytes cells carry enzyme granules inside themselves. They use these enzymes to attack and destroy foreign bacteria. granulocytes are further sub-divided into three distinct cell types called: neutrophils, basophils, and eosinophils. Each of these cell types has a specific role in preventing infections. The neutrophils cells are designed to destroy bacteria, basophils are used to regulate allergic and inflammatory situations, eosinophils generally attack parasites. Monocytes. Monocytes are more different white cells that turn into macrophages. A macrophages is a monocyte that exits the bloodstream to enter into body tissues. Macrophages explore body tissue seeking out and destroying bacteria . In healthy individuals, white blood cells grow in the bone marrow, perform their tasks properly and when finished die and are replaced by healthy new cells. When Acute myelogenous leukemia develops, ( and other types of acute leukemia) white blood cells do not grow properly. Because of some change or damage to their genetic material or DNA that scientists do not fully understand, the cells are prevented from growing beyond at certain point early in their development, and they cannot differentiate into functional types of white cells. These undeveloped leukemic cells, instead of helping the body, invade it. The cells quickly reproduce in the bone marrow edging out the production of normal red and white blood cells normally produced there. Since the leukemia cells prevent the production of healthy cells, patients with AML get anemic, they have a lack of oxygen-carrying red blood cells; they are prone to infections because they do not have disease fighting white blood cells; they also bruise and bleed easy, because their body doe snot produce enough platelets, the part of the blood that helps in blood clotting and healing. Leukemic cells may also invade other organs. AML is a common form of leukemia in adults. More than 10,000 adults are diagnosed each year in the United States. The average age of people diagnosed with AML is 65. AML affects more men than women, and is slightly more common among whites than blacks. |