The Evolution of Leukemia Treatment

The Evolution of Leukemia Treatment Every year, thousands of Americans of all ages are diagnosed with leukemia. Leukemia is a cancer of the blood cells or bone marrow that results in an abnormal production of blood cells, especially white blood cells. Symptoms of leukemia include poor blood clotting, frequent infections, and anemia. The treatment of leukemia has evolved greatly since it was first recognized in the 19th century, and today many people diagnosed with leukemia are able to successfully fight the disease with the help of modern medicine. 1845 Early 1900s Official diagnosis of leukemia by John Hughes Bennett in Edinburgh. Arsenic became the primary therapy for leukemia. 1913 1920s X-ray radiation for patient therapy moved into the clinical routine. Four types of leukemia were classified: 1. chronic lymphocytic leukemia 2. chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) 3. acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) 4. erythroleukemia Shortly after x-ray radiation became widely used, radiation was shown to be LE a cause as well as a cure for leukemia. 1940s 1970s Treatment of leukemia was based on single agent chemotherapy. Pre-symptomatic therapy for central nervous system leukemia improved treatment. Aminopterin, which prevents the DNA replication in tumor cells, was used to treat acute childhood leukemia. Blood and marrow transplants were introduced for use when drug treatments did not work. 1960s Brain and spinal column radiation (cranospinal radiation) was used to prevent central nervous system leukemia. Multi-agent chemotherapy began and dramatically increased survivorship. Currently, ALL leukemia is treated by: Chemotherapy Drugs are used to destroy cancer cells or stop them from growing. Typically, some form of chemotherapy will be part of the treatment plan for all patients. Today Radiation therapy Children who have signs of disease in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) or have a high risk of the disease spreading to this area may receive radiation therapy to the brain. This type of therapy is not common. Blood and marrow transplant (BMT) This is used for patients who are less likely to go in to remission with chemotherapy, as blood and marrow transplants can have serious risks. x24259,889 Statistics in 2010-2011 4mins There are 259,889 people living with, or in remission from, leukemia in the US. Every 10 minutes, someone in the US Approximately every 4 minutes one person dies from a blood in US is diagnosed with blood cancer cancer which means (leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma . nearly 148 people each day, or more than six people every hour. 30% 38% 1111 Approximately 30 percent more males are living with leuke- mia than females. The estimated number Leukemia is diagnosed 10 times more often in adults than in children. The most common of deaths attributed to case of leukemia occur in older adults, leukemia in the US is and the median age at diagnosis is 66 years old. More males than females are diag- nosed with leukemia nearly 38 percent higher for males than for females. and die of leukemia. Blood cancer does not discriminate; it can effect any age, any race, any gender, any time.Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is the 5th most common cancer in the US. In 2010, an estimated 259,889 people are living with or in remission from leukemia. Sources: http://serc.carleton.edu/woburn/overarching/leuk_treatment.html http://rebeccanelson.com/leukemia/history.html http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/cancer/cancer_leukemia.html# http://www.leukemia-research.org/page.aspx?pid%3=214 THE NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENIER SERIOUS MEDICINE. EXTRAORDINARY CARE