Acute Myelogenous Leukemia

What is Acute Myelogenous Leukemia?

The bone marrow is found inside the hollows of your bones. The mass of tissue inside the large bones are actually what creates new blood cells. Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) develops when your bone marrow produces immature cells that don’t develop as expected and fail to fulfill necessary functions that may lead to infections, bruising, bleeding and, if not treated immediately, may prove to be fatal. Leukemia is basically a cancer of the blood and the bone marrow; acute myelogenous leukemia, also called acute myeloid leukemia, is the most common type of leukemia.

Myeloid cells are developed in the bone marrow and mature and develop into red and white blood cells and platelets before they become part of normally circulating blood. In the case of acute myelogenous leukemia, these myeloid cells do not develop as expected. Instead, they become abnormal cells which reproduce at an accelerated rate, often uprooting clean or normal cells and harming the bone marrow in the process. At the same time, the marrow fails to produce new normal blood cells, resulting in anemia, easy bleeding and an incapability to fight off infections.

Acute Myelogenous Leukemia Statistics

According to the American Cancer Society, there were 13,410 estimated cases of acute myelogenous or myeloid leukemia in 2006, divided almost equally between men and women - there is an estimate of 7,060 men and 6,350 women who are afflicted with this cancer of the blood. In 2006 also, there is an estimated record of 8,990 deaths from acute myelogenous leukemia. Fortunately, if detected right away, acute myelogenous leukemia can be treated.

Causes of Acute Myelogenous Leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia is believed to be caused by DNA mutation in the cells developing in the bone marrow. Your DNA is usually in charge of the growth and splitting of your cells; injury to your DNA will cause abnormal cell development and division. It is not clear, however, what it is that affects the DNA and there is ongoing research to determine this. It is discovered, though, that DNA mutation is not hereditary and some possible causes include infection from cancerous elements and side effects of other blood disorders.

Acute Myelogenous Leukemia Symptoms

The underproduction of red blood cells will cause anemia, therefore fatigue, lethargy, shortness of breath and increased paleness are symptoms of acute myelogenous leukemia. Similarly, watch out for infections as your immune system is done, with the shortage of white blood cells in your body. Other symptoms include weight loss, fever and amplified incidences of bleeding and bruising, due to the shortage of blood platelets.

Acute Myelogenous Leukemia Treatments

Acute myelogenous leukemia is treated in two stages: first with remission induction therapy and consolidation therapy. Both destroy leukemia cells, but remission induction doesn’t totally remove all evidences of leukemia from your blood and bone marrow, for which consolidation therapy is needed, to finish the job, so to speak. Patients with acute myelogenous leukemia are at a higher risk of a relapse. Remission induction therapy may be given in the form of chemotherapy or drug therapy such as arsenic trioxide administration, while immunotherapy or biological thearapy, mostly administration of antibodies, is used for consolidation. For older patients at a higher risk of relapse, bone marrow and stem cell transplants are more recommended.

Medical research in curing acute myelogenous leukemia has vastly improved and recovery from this aggressive cancer is still increasing at a steady rate. Patients who learn more about their affliction are also at a better advantage of getting better. So keep reading up on your own and open communication lines with your doctor. Every little bit helps.

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