Acute and chronic leucosis

Leucosis is a disease that influences formation of cells in the body of the patient. The disease starts in the bone marrow. The main characteristic of it is presence of leukocytes  in the organism of the person.

There are 4 types of leukemia, but first of all it is divided into 2 groups as it develops in 2 different ways.

Acute and chronic leucosis are classified differently because the etymology is diverse. The latter one develops due to leukemia cells, that accumulate gradually and slowly. They come from the abnormal mature ones.

The development of the former one is different because the material differs considerably. Blasts (early cells) are at its basis and it influences the dynamics of the disease. Blasts always divide – this is something you will not see in normal counterparts. Their behavior affects the work of the bone marrow, which is not able to generate healthy blood cells because of crowding. Intensive accumulation of the malignant cells in a person is highly dangerous therefore immediate measures should be taken. Fast progression can bring to complication when they spill over and get to the blood, while blood in its turn will spread the disease all over the body. This is how it can make other organs affected.

Acute  leukemia affects children for the most part. And though it occurs among adults as well, the rate of such cases is lower. According to the information of American Cancer Society about 1500 people die annually from it (approximate figures). The disease progresses fast.

Its main symptoms include:

  • Fever

  • Consistent fatigue

  • Shortage of breath

  • Bruising

  • Bad appetite or its loss

As a result the person becomes vulnerable to all infections and immune system is not able to suppress any attack.

Leucosis is treatable and can be cured with chemotherapy, hormone treatments and medical radiation therapy in UCTC. But the prognosis is favorable not for all patients. Such factors as age and state of health play important role in it. Certainly, children have better chances at that. They can be even permanently cured, while others are treated for years.

Leucosis can happen at any age.

Apart from being divided into chronic and acute types, the disease is subdivided further. Therefore the types fall into the following groups:

  • Lymphocytic

  • Myelogenous