Where it occurs LEUKEMIA?
Many people believe cancer of the blood. In fact, it is a cancer of the bone marrow - 'factories' in the bones where blood cells are formed. For a better understanding of this disease, you need to understand:

the blood;
where it creates;
which is its role;
blood
Blood consists of blood cells (blood cells) and plasma (plasma), which is the liquid part of blood. Plasma serves as a medium in which the blood cells, usually microscopic, scattered and that helps them to travel.
Marrowbone:
The spongy tissue that fills bone cavities called bone marrow. It is a 'factory' for the production of blood cells. The core releases blood cells in the bloodstream when they mature and when the body needs it. In a healthy body produces three types of blood cells. These are:

red blood cells;
white blood cells;
platelets;

Growth and development of blood cells is carefully controlled to produce the required number of each type of cells to maintain a healthy body. Produced every second, millions of red and white blood zrnaca.Stanice normally remain within the bone marrow until they are mature enough and able to circulate in the blood and perform their various tasks. All blood cells grow old and die, but their lives are very different.

Red blood cells live for about four months after leaving the bone marrow.
White blood cells live for only a few days.
Platelets live for a few days.
Red blood cells and platelets can not be replaced by transfusion.

What are they doing Blood Cells?

Red blood cells (fuel tanker):

Contain hemoglobin to transport oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body. On its way through the body collects waste product (carbon dioxide) and relate it to the lungs, where it is exhaled.
If there are not enough red blood cells, a person may feel exhausted and weak. May be pale and tire easily because your body is not getting enough oxygen. A shortage of red blood cells is called anemia.
White blood cells (infection fighters):

They fight infections, eliminate from the body microbes (germs) and changed the diseased cells of the body.
White blood cells have several types:
Neutrophils (neutrophils) to fight infection, kill bacteria and remove damaged tissue.
Eosinophils (Eosinophils) that fight against infections caused by parasites, and their number increases in allergic reactions
Basophils (basophils) have also the ability of phagocytosis, and elimination of foreign pathogens devouring
Monocytes (monocytes) act directly on T and B lymphocytes
and help them
Lymphocytes (Lymphocytes)
T-lymphocytes (T-lymphocytes) control immunity, capable of destroying viruses and cancer cells.
B-lymphocytes (B-lymphocytes) produce antibodies.
Due to the insufficient number of white blood cells increases the frequency and severity of infections that can be life-threatening.
Platelets (cells repair)

Help blood clotting, ai prevent bleeding. If the damaged blood vessel (eg a cut or bruise), Tiles' rushing to the scene "and the garments are worn spot damage to 'shut down' the damaged area.
An insufficient number of platelets can often cause nosebleeds, prolonged bleeding from cuts, increased bruising or bleeding from the bowel, urine or skin.
In severe cases, when the number is very low, there is a risk of bleeding in the internal organs and the brain. Your medical team will inform you when you are reducing the number of tiles.
FAMILY BLOOD CELLS
All blood cells originate from the same original stem or progenitor cells. However, early in their development, and cells were split into two main families - myeloid (myeloid) and lymphoid (lymphoid) family.

The myeloid family includes:

All red blood cells, platelets and white blood cells, granulocytes (granulocytes), which consists of neutrophils, basophils and eosinophil  and monocytes (monocytes).
The lymphoid family includes:

lymphocytes
As the two families fight infection?
Although the white blood cells of these two families the same war against infectious organisms, their methods differ. Myeloid white blood cells are immediate defense against infection of the human body. Lymphoid cells take longer to take effect, but are more specific in their fight against invading organisms, and have the ability to 'remember' pathogens against which they have fought and are willing to re-contact and react faster and stronger.

Lymphoid cells are also found in lymphoid tissues in all parts of the body. Special large clusters of lymph tissue found in the lymph glands, the liver, spleen and along the gut and lung passages. The lymphatic system is the body for collecting, filtering and drainage system. However, just as the blood circulates blood system, the lymphatic system circulates a clear fluid called lymph, which travel lymphocytes. Thus, the cells are in the blood and lymph.

What is bone marrow bone marrow diseases?
It is not definitely known what causes leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and related blood disorders. However, several factors seem to affect their development:

genetic factors;
radiation;
chemicals;
virus.
These risk factors are only part of the reason causes the individual patient and apply only to a very small number of cases. In most cases, the cause remains unknown. If you have one or more of these factors, it does not mean that you will definitely suffer from one of these diseases. If you're concerned about any of these factors, talk to your doctor.

HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED?
Symptoms of leukemia and related disorders of the bone marrow and are typical of many other diseases. Some types of leukemia do not cause any symptoms until the disease is in the advanced stage, and sometimes not even then.

However, this does not mean that even very early diagnosis to prevent the spread of disease because leukemia is widespread in the bone marrow from the beginning. The diagnosis of leukemia is set using two tests - analysis of blood and bone marrow puncture. When you take a blood sample and analyzed under a microscope, counted in a sample of white blood cells and platelets. They'll suspect if the number of blood cells outside the normal range. It is possible to note: low number of blood platelets; low number of red blood cells; low number of mature white blood cells; or more likely a high number of white blood cells most of which are immature or prematurely released white blood cells (called blasts (blasts)). Then performs puncture bone marrow. In this test, the doctor takes a sample needle bone marrow directly from the bone cavity, mainly from the sternum. The bone marrow sample is analyzed using a wide variety of tests, from microscopic analysis, chromosomal and genetic analysis to the study of special bone marrow culture, on which is diagnosed. Sometimes it is to set the safe and accurate diagnosis need to do a bone marrow biopsy. A biopsy is a sampler of the bone in order to microscopic analysis. Before the procedure the patient is given a local anesthetic to make searching less painful, a sample is taken from the pelvic bone, from the rear.

Contrary to common belief, leukemia cells do not always grow faster than normal cells. In fact, the experiments suggest that allegations that some leukemia cells actually grow more slowly than normal cells. Immature leukemia cells accumulate in the blood vessels, do not die like normal cells, and their number is getting bigger and bigger. Very high numbers of cells in the blood (especially red blood cells and platelets) can lead to the blockage of blood vessels and damage to body tissues. The blood becomes very thick and sticky, which impedes the normal flow. This problem is one of the consequences of leukemia treatment seeks to overcome.

WHAT IS LEUKEMIA?
By leukemia occurs when the body rested create apparently altered white blood cells. This process reduces the amount of mature blood cells. The beads are 'changed' because they cannot mature properly. This inability to reach maturity is a major disruption in leukemia. These 'baby' or immature cells accumulate in the body, do not die and cannot be spent.

When an leukemia, the leukemia cells begin to accumulate in the bone marrow. Eventually, all the normal white and red blood cells and platelets are not displace or replace. Healthy bone marrow is replaced by immature cells that eventually appear in the blood. Thus, while the number of immature cells in the blood increases, the number of normal red and white blood cells and plate decreases. The patient would therefore may experience some symptoms or signs of deficiency of certain blood cells, such as loss of red blood cells leads to fatigue and pallor (anemia); loss of white blood cells leads to repeated infections, and loss of tiles leads to the emergence of numerous bruises and bleeding from the nose. This explains why often the anemia, bleeding and infection.

Forms of leukemia:
The four general types of leukemia are:

acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Acute lymphoblastic Leukemia - ALL);
chronic lymphocytic leukemia (Chronic lymphocytic leukemia - CLL);
acute myeloid leukemia (Acute myeloid Leukemia - AML);
Myeloidchronic leukemia (Chronic myeloid Leukemia - CML).
Acute leukemia (Acute leukemia) occurs when the leukemia cells stop very early in their development. This means that the cells remain immature and cannot perform their functions.

Acute leukemia is developing rapidly, usually start suddenly. Patients like the first symptoms usually cite bruising, weakness due to anemia, and often contact their physician due to infection, and by examination of peripheral blood counts to determine changes in the number of blood cells. Most acute leukemia requires the prompt initiation of treatment.

Chronic leukemia (Chronic leukemia) occurs when the leukemia cells stop later in its development, leukemia attack 'adult' cells. The number of immature cells blasts, in chronic leukemia is smaller and does not stop the development and operation of other blood cells and are less likely to be anemia, bleeding and infection. Leukemia also progresses more slowly so that these patients should not always immediately begin treatment, some even never and do not need treatment.

Leukemias are either myeloid or lymphoid. When you attack the leukemia cells that will eventually become platelets, red blood cells, granulocytes and monocytes, it is called myeloid (myeloid), myelocytic (myelocytic), myelogenous (myelogenous), or myeloid (granulocytic) leukemia.
When you attack the leukemia cells that should become cells that are called lymphoblastic (lymphoblastic), lymphoid (lymphoid), lymphoblastic (lymphocytic), or lymphatic (lymphatic) leukemia.

Causes of child leukemia
The cause of leukemia is still unknown. The occurrence of leukemia viruses play an important role, inherited and acquired diseases, radiation and chemical substances (benzene, pesticides, heavy metals). Leukemia is not a contagious disease and can not be transferred to others.

Clinical features and diagnosis of leukemia

The diagnosis of leukemia is on the basis of clinical presentation, examination of the blood, bone marrow and cerebrospinal fluid. Based on these indicators determines the type of leukemia, and the types of therapies. Clinical signs of the disease usually occur within a few weeks to a definitive diagnosis, which are:

fatigue and pallor (86%),
temperature (61%),
bleeding (48%),
bone pain (23%),
enlarged lymph nodes (50%),
enlarged liver and spleen (68%),
increase the testicles in male children <1%.
if the affected brain (morning headaches and vomiting)

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
(Acute lymphoblastic leukemia - ALL, also called acute lymphocytic iliacute lymphatic leukemia)

This type of leukemia is the most common childhood leukemia, but can occur in adults. Changed ALL cells in the immature cells - these are white blood cells per lymphoid line, therefore called lymphoblasts (lymphoblasts).  The function of cells that protect the body from infection. When ALL reflections on the bone marrow, reduce the production of cells that fight infection and may cause serious infections. In addition, leukemia can also suppress the platelets and red blood cells that produce blood.

Treatment
This type of leukemia can often be successfully treated with combination chemotherapy. In children, ALL very well responding to treatment; up to 75% of children with this type of leukemia achieved complete remission and subsequent recovery. ALL tends spreading to the central nervous system and requires special preventive treatment approach called prophylaxis of brain or central nervous system (brain or central nervous system prophylaxis). Many chemotherapeutic agents used for the treatment of ALL cannot pass the blood brain membrane and enter the central nervous system, but can be leukemia. Prophylaxis is brain drug delivery directly into the central nervous system using lumbar puncture to prevent the leukemia hide in these areas during the chemotherapy and then developed after treatment. Can be used and radiotherapy (radiation) of the brain or spinal cord. For some patients who relapse or return after initial treatment, can be used stem cell transplantation.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
(Chronic lymphocytic leukemia - CLL, also known as chronic lymphoid leukemia and chronic lymphaticili)

This is a chronic type of leukemia that progresses slowly. As with ALL, lymphocytic cells are affected. This disease usually occurs in older patients - not known to appear in children. Because the disease progresses slowly, normal lymphocytes and other cells are suppressed as fast as it happens in acute types of the disease. This means that patients with CLL may not feel unusual symptoms until the later stages of the disease. Some people never need treatment. When symptoms occur, they can be expressed in terms of a general ill feeling, fatigue, lack of energy, fever, loss of appetite or weight loss.

Treatment
This disease can be left without treatment when it is not active for years with her can live normally.  When the disease is active, tended to be single or multiple drugs through chemotherapy and sometimes radiotherapy. While CLL is generally not curable, it often happens that people long to enjoy good health. It is possible that it will take a special vaccinations, antibiotics and blood products transfusion (red blood cells and platelets).

Acute myeloid leukemia
(Acute myeloid leukemia - AML, also called acute myelocytic, acute myelocytic, acute granulocytic leukemia or acute myelogenous)

Acute myeloid leukemia affects myeloid cell line. Myeloid family consists of four types of blood cells:
granulocytes;
monocytes;
red blood cells;
platelets.

This type of leukemia affected are mostly granulocytes. They circulate in the blood and their job is to search for the attackers infectious blood and surrounding tissue. Granulocytes act quickly on all types of infectious agents, while lymphoid cells take longer to start the action, but they are more specific and fighters against infection. When monocytes from myeloid families find the attackers 'eat' them, or swallow them and destroy. AML occurs when a block occurs in the maturation of myeloid lineage, and to create and accumulate immature cells - 'baby'. When you accumulate too many myeloid cells in the blood, can cause blockage of blood vessels. This type of leukemia can occur in children and adolescents, but usually affects adults.

Treatment

Some people who suffer from AML achieved complete remission (long-term disease-free status) treatment with chemotherapy. However, new methods of treatment (autologous transplantation, allogeneic transplantation, immunotherapy) may improve the chances of survival.

Chronic myeloid leukemia
(Chronic myeloid leukemia - CML, also called chronic myelogenous, chronic granulocytic or chronic myelocytic leukemia)

Changed myeloid cells in this type of leukemia are usually mature in appearance, but do not function properly. This leukemia is related to chromosomal changes in cells called 'Philadelphia chromosome (Philadelphia chromosome)' and more often affects younger patients than CLL and. CML is also different from običnijih types of leukemia because it has three stages. The first is the slow multiplication of modified cells, the chronic phase (chronic phase). Crossing the disease to acute leukemia called accelerated phase (accelerated phase) and is characterized by a gradual increase in the number of immature cells in the bone marrow aspirate, but have not yet met the criteria for acute leukemia. The disease eventually exceed the accelerated phase of blast crisis (blast phase), which represents the final phase of development of the disease and differs from acute myeloid leukemia.

The time that will elapse between the occurrence of the disease and its transformation into acute leukemia is difficult to predict, but an average of 5-7 years. Treatment is very difficult for most patients with acute transformation. It may help bone marrow transplant.

Treatment

Treatment of chronic stage is easy and effective,  the disease can be well controlled, but not cured. Stem cell transplantation lot of promise as a treatment for people suffering from CML. High doses of interferon prior to the arrival of Glivec was the treatment of choice and can be effective, but has significant side effects, and the emergence of Glveca its use almost broke.   Recently developed a drug called Glivec now available to most patients in the chronic phase who show a good response to the drug.  If there is a transformation of the disease, chemotherapy may lead to remission, but it usually is not long. It is also harder to heal bone marrow transplant in an acute phase. Bone marrow transplantation is the only way to achieve lasting remission, but it is most effective if it is done in the chronic phase.