Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia

What is Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia?

When a person develops acute myeloblastic leukemia, his or her bone marrow no longer functions properly. The bone marrow creates the blood cells that provide oxygen to the tissues of your body and allow your blood to clot. If you have developed acute myeloblastic leukemia, the process of making blood cells has somehow malfunctioned. The blood cells that are being created are abnormal and are usually immature. Because the blood cells are immature, they fill up the bone marrow and further impede the ability of the bone marrow to make normal functioning blood cells. If this process continues, the leukemia cells can enter the blood stream, creating an increased risk of infection and anemia.

Causes of Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia

At the moment, the cause of acute myeloblastic leukemia is still unknown, although there seem to be several factors that might increase the risk developing this disorder. High doses of radiation seem to increase the chances of getting of this type of cancer, as does smoking. Benzene, which is found in cigarette smoke as well as in industry jobs, seems to raise the risk as well. People with Down’s Syndrome and the blood disorder known as myelodysplasia have an increased chance of being diagnosed, although this disorder does not seem to be rooted in genetics. Research is constantly being done into the causes of cancers in general and acute myeloblastic leukemia in particular and everyday scientists pull together more information about this disorder.

Symptoms of Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia

Acute myeloblastic leukemia is often diagnosed with a blood test, but while some people are completely asymptomatic, it is much more likely that someone who suffers from this disorder will show some of the trademark symptoms. Acute myeloblastic leukemia will often show itself in anemia, where the sufferer will look pale and feel constantly tired and breathless. Due to the smaller number of viable blood cells being produced, someone with this disorder might have more infections than usual, contract fevers easily and constantly feel unwell. Unexplained bruising and unusual bleeding, like blood from the gums or sudden nosebleeds, are also recognized as symptoms of acute myeloblastic leukemia.

Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia Treatments

There are several treatments that are often used on people who suffer from acute myeloblastic leukemia. Chemotherapy is the most popular option and and for many patients, it succeeds in driving the cancer into remission. In some cases, a stem cell or bone marrow transplant is conducted in addition to chemotherapy to improve the chances of curing the disorder. There are a number of factors which go into deciding treatment, among them level of health, age and the amount of leukemia cells present in the body.

Acute myeloblastic leukemia is treatable and as with many conditions, early detection is key. Speak with your care professionals to see what your options are and remember that the more information you have about this condition, the more confident you will feel about your ability to deal with it.

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