subject: Treating Leukemia Using Cord Blood Cells [print this page] Leukemia is the cancer of blood and bone marrow, resulting in a decreased number of white blood cells being produced. It starts taking place from the tissues that make up the blood.
As leukemia leads to a decreased number of white blood cells, the treatment should be able to bring that number up to the required one. One such treatment that helps to a great extent in this condition is that of blood from umbilical cord.
Cord blood is that blood which is collected after the birth of a baby, from the umbilical cord. The blood stays in the umbilical cord that has been detached and in the placenta after birth.
Stem cells are present in cord blood in a high number, which is why cord blood is useful for the treatment of leukemia. Stem cells play a major role in repairing and curing cells that have been injured or affected by a disease. They are obtained from the destruction of an embryo.
The stem cells do so by their quality of being able to take the shape of any other cell or tissue in the body, so that they can replace the harmed ones.
The treatment of leukemia is carried out after the birth of a baby, so that cord blood can be taken from the umbilical cord. Then, the blood is provided to the sufferer of leukemia in high doses, in the form of chemotherapy. This is when the stem cells begin their work.
Once the stem cells are injected into the blood stream of the person, they begin transforming into white blood cells, which were needed by the body. This way, the number reaches to the one required. One can only get hold of cord blood just when the birth takes place, which can later be utilized again at any time.
