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Acute Lymphocytic (lymphoblastic) leukemia is a life threatening disorder, where the cell that develops normally into lymphocyte turns to be cancerous, quickly replacing normal cells in the bone marrow. Acute lymphocytic leukemia, mostly occurs in children (about 25% of all cancers in children under 15 years of age). It most frequently affects very young children between the ages of 3 to 5, but may also occur in adolescents; and, less likely, in adults. Very immature cells, normally develop in lymphocytes and become cancerous, such as leukemic cells that concentrate in the bone marrow, destroying and replacing cells that produce normal blood cells. They are released into the blood and transported to the lymph node, liver, reproductive organs, spleen, kidneys, and brain, where they continue to grow and divide. These leukemic cells may irritate the brain’s lining, resulting in meningitis, anemia, kidney and liver failures, and other organ injuries. The first symptoms generally appear because the bone marrow fails to produce proper amount of normal blood cells. Such symptoms usually include shortness of breath and weakness, caused by anemia; fevers and infections caused by very little healthy white blood cells, and bleeding, caused by very little platelets. In some individuals, serious infections are the first symptoms, but in other patients, the onset is more subtle, with developed weakness, plaeness, and fatigue. Bleeding can happen in the nose; purple skin blotches; bleeding of gums; or easy bruising. Leukemic cells in the individual’s brain can result in vomiting, headaches, as well as irritability; and leukemic cells in the bone marrow can result in joint aches and bone pain. A doctor diagnoses acute lymphocytic leukemia by ordering blood tests, such as the full blood cell count, which may provide the first evidence, that a person has leukemia. The total white blood cell count can be normal, increased, or decreased, but the red blood cell amount and platelets is usually always lowered. More importantly, blasts (very immature white blood cells) may be found in blood samples tested under a microscope. Since blasts aren’t normally seen in the bloodstream, blasts presence can be all that is required to confirm Acute lymphocytic leukemia (or just leukemia). However, biopsy from the bone marrow is alwas done to determine the diagnosis and to confirm the form of leukemia. In more than 90% of patients with acute lymphocytic leukemias (especially children), the first chemotherapy course brings the disorder under control (or Remission). This disorder often returns in many, but 50% of children experience no symptoms of leukemia five years after cure. Children of ages 3 to 7 have better prognosis, than individuals over the age of 20. Adults or children with number of white blood cells under 25,000 cells per microliter in the bloodstream, have a better prognosis than adults or children with higher blood cell number. The main goal is to achieve full remission, and to destroy leukemic cells so that the healthy cells may grow again in the bone marrow. A patient, getting chemotherapy, can require to remain in a hospital for several days or weeks. Before returning to normal functions in bone marrow, a patient can require transfusion of red blood cells to cure anemia, platelets, transfusions for treating, bleeding, and antibiotics to cure the infection. For the cure of brain leukemic cells, a drug Methotrexate is injected primary into the fluid of the spine, and radiation therapy is performed on the brain. Additional treatment is usually given to destroy any remaining leukemic cells after several weeks or months after the initial intensive cure. Treatment of acute lymphocytic leukemia can last 2 to 3 years. The recurring of leukemic cells in the bone marrow is extremely serious. Chemotherapy is given again, but the disease has a strong tendency to return. When those cells recur in the brain, a chemotherapy drug is injected directly into the spine fluid, once or twice on a weekly basis.
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