November 14, 2009
Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment
Acute lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) is an acquired genetic disease that occurs when white blood cells are overproduced in the marrow of the bone. When the cells multiply acute lymphocytic leukemia develops and eventually causes the deterioration of the body, potentially leading to death, by spreading to other organs.
The age of the victim and the time that the Cancer is diagnosed both influence the effect of ALL which is most common in children and young adults. Acute lymphocytic leukemia can reportedly peak in children between the ages of four and five. Continued research into ALL has uncovered another peak that occurs in the later years.
Effects of ALL
Acute lymphocytic leukemia can be physically, emotionally, and financially straining on those who are affected by it. Acute lymphocytic leukemia is characterized by the uncontrolled growth and accumulation of lymphoblast cells that prevent the production of normal cells and cause a deficit of red and white cells entering the blood stream.
Symptoms of acute lymphocytic leukemia can include:
- The slow healing of cuts and easy bleeding
- Shortness of breath
- Repetition of infections
- Joint pain
Diagnosing the Illness
Since the symptoms of acute lymphocytic leukemia are so general, diagnosing the illness starts by conducting a thorough medical history and a physical examination of the patient. When a high white blood cell count is discovered during the diagnostic process, the patient typically has a worse outcome.
Blast cells are discovered in 90 percent of acute lymphocytic leukemia cases through a blood smear. A bone marrow biopsy is another effective diagnostic test for acute lymphocytic leukemia.
Treating Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
There are various treatments available for children living with ALL. The primary treatment available is chemotherapy, where specific drugs are used to various subtypes of acute lymphocytic leukemia and all chemotherapy treatments for this are not the same. The drug treatment used for children with ALL includes multiple drugs administered in a precise schedule over an extended period of time. Due to the extended time of this treatment, children with acute lymphocytic leukemia should be treated by doctors with experience and expertise in treating children affected by cancer. Many children with ALL also participate in clinical trials where new combinations of drugs are tested and then compared to standard treatments.
Related Pages Which Studies Are Most Helpful for Cancer Care? This article explains why a randomized, controlled clinical trial is considered the gold standard in cancer research. Randomization is a process that assigns research participants by chance, rather than by choice, to either the investigational group or the control group during a clinical trial. A variety of children's cancer centers, nationwide, enroll large numbers of children with ALL in clinical trials. According to reports, doctors plan on continuing to do clinical trials in order to try and improve ALL treatments while reducing the side effects of acute lymphocytic leukemia.
If you are experiencing symptoms linked to ALL and are seeking legal guidance, please contact an benzene leukemia attorney today.
Filed under Leukemia Lymphoma Cancer by John Dunant



