subject: Understanding Leukemia | Body Blood Cells [print this page] Understanding Leukemia | Body Blood Cells
Leukemia is cancer of blood or bone marrow. Before discussing leukemia, it is very important to understand the formation of blood because this cancer types creates problem in blood. Our blood consists of plasma and blood cells. Plasma is yellow colored liquid and blood cells flow in this liquid. Blood cells can be categorized into three types, Red blood cells, White blood cells and platelets.
Red blood cells are responsible for transportation of oxygen from lungs to all body tissues. They also collected carbon dioxide back to lungs which are then breath out by lungs. Deficiency in red blood cells leads to many diseases. White blood cells are part of body immune system. Immune system protects our body against diseases. Body immune system identifies pathogen and tumor cells and kills these bodies. Low white blood cells count is very dangerous because it creates weakness in immune system and body may fail to protect itself against diseases. Platelets are cells fragments which play an important role in blood clotting. Deficiency of platelets may cause excessive bleeding and having too-much platelet may result in clots in blood.
Bone marrow is the place in our body where these blood cells are produced. Sometimes, the DNA of cells become corrupt and as result of this problem, production of blood cells gets out of control. This leads to excessive production of immature blood cells, mostly white blood cells. These abnormal blood cells are produced rapidly. They remain alive longer than normal blood cells. Slowly and steadily, these abnormal blood cells replace most of the normal blood cells. This abnormal growth of immature cells is called Leukemia.
Leukemia Symptoms include red spots on body, tiredness, weight loss, paleness on skin, swelling in abdomen, swelling in lymph nodes and breathing problems.
