Leukemia Cancer Center
According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, leukemia is a malignant disease (cancer) that originates in a cell in the marrow. It is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of developing marrow cells. There are two major classifications of leukemia: myelogenous or lymphocytic, which can each be acute or chronic. The terms myelogenous or lymphocytic denote the cell type involved. Thus, four major types of leukemia are: acute or chronic myelogenous leukemia and acute or chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Acute leukemia is a rapidly progressing disease that results in the accumulation of immature, functionless cells in the marrow and blood. The marrow often can no longer produce enough normal red and white blood cells and platelets. Anemia, a deficiency of red cells, develops in virtually all leukemia patients. The lack of normal white cells impairs the body's ability to fight infections. A shortage of platelets results in bruising and easy bleeding. Chronic leukemia progresses more slowly and permits greater numbers of more mature, functional cells to be made.

In the United States, about 2,000 children and 27,000 adults are diagnosed each year with leukemia. The incidence of leukemia is more common in men and boys than girls and women, and also more likely to occur in white people than black Exposure to high-energy radiation (such as World War II atomic bomb explosions) and intense exposure to low-energy radiation from electromagnetic fields (such as power lines and electric appliances like electric blankets) have been linked to leukemia. Studies are being conducted to further understand this link.

There is also a genetic component to leukemia. Certain genetic conditions predispose people to leukemia. For example, those children with Down Syndrome are more likely than the general population to develop this type of cancer.

Another risk factor for developing leukemia is exposure to certain toxic chemicals, such as benzene and formaldehyde. Also, some of the chemotherapy drugs used to treat other types of cancer may increase a person's risk of getting leukemia. However, this risk is very small when compared with the often-enormous benefits of chemotherapy.

There are many factors that will determine the course of treatment, including age, general health, the specific type of leukemia, and also whether there has been previous treatment.

At Cancer Treatment Centers of America, we use many tools to help you fight leukemia on all fronts. A powerful combination of traditional and new, innovative therapies are provided by cancer experts who work with you to determine the appropriate combination of therapies, which may include:

• Autologous Stem Cell Transplant allows for a more aggressive treatment of certain cancers, including leukemia. In an autologous stem cell transplant, you are your own donor. Your bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells are taken from you (harvested), frozen until needed, then given back to you (transplanted) after you have received high doses of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or both, to destroy your cancer cells.


• Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant is when your bone marrow and immune system are replaced with new, healthy bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells from another person. Traditionally, most of the allogeneic stem cell transplants have been performed using stem cells collected from the bone marrow, but the use of peripheral blood stem cells is rapidly increasing.
  
  In addition to traditional cancer treatments, CTCA enriches your treatment by offering complementary and alternative therapies such as naturopathic medicine, nutritional therapy, mind-body medicine, image enhancement and spiritual counseling. CTCA is with you every step of the way in what truly is the fight of your life.

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia - Description
Acute lymphocytic leukemia is a common, progressive, malignant disease characterized by large numbers of immature white blood cells that resemble lymphoblasts. Acute lymphocytic leukemia results when cancerous cells lose their ability to mature. These cancerous acute lymphocytic leukemia cells multiply and start to overtake the normal cells. As your normal blood cells start to reduce in number, you can become more susceptible to bleeding and infection. These types of cells can be found in bone marrow, blood, lymph nodes, spleen, and other organs. It is believed that acute lymphocytic leukemia accounts for approximately 80% of all the acute childhood leukemias. Most cases appear between the ages 3 and 7. Acute lymphocytic leukemia also occurs in adults. Adult acute lymphocytic leukemia makes up approximately 20% of all adult leukemias.

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Symptoms
Although the exact cause of acute lymphocytic leukemia is not known, a variety of risk factors, including environmental influences are being researched. Possible risk factors of acute lymphocytic leukemia include:

• Down syndrome


• A sibling with leukemia


• Exposure to radiation, chemicals, and/or drugs.

• Prolonged or excessive bleeding


• Bruise easily


• Bleeding gums


• Nosebleeds


• Bleeding into the skin


• Menstrual irregularities


• Skin rash or lesion


• Pale complexion


• Fatigue


• Frequent infections


• Sternal tenderness


• Bone pain


• Pain in your joints


• Enlarged glands


• Unexplained weight loss


• Unexplained fever


• Swollen gums


• Shortness of breath


• Palpitations

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Treatment Options
There are various factors that come into play when your doctor determines what treatment to consider. Those factors include the sub-type of acute lymphocytic leukemia diagnosed, your age, general health, and whether the cells have also collected in the spinal cord, brain, testes, or lymph nodes.

In many cases, acute lymphocytic leukemia is treated with chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses a combination of strong drugs that destroy the cancerous cells. Chemotherapy also impedes the growth and reproduction of the cancerous cells. Although chemotherapy is administered to affect the growth and reproduction of cancerous cells, it can also affect healthy cells that is why the specialists at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) continue to explore new ways to help prevent or lessen the side effects of your treatment. We realize that unrelieved pain can significantly diminish your quality of life and will work with you to help relieve any pain you may experience.

CTCA is the home of integrative cancer care. We never stop searching for the most innovative and up-to-date treatments and therapies designed to improve your quality of life and provide hope during this difficult time. CTCA is committed to helping people fight acute lymphocytic leukemia and we strongly believe in empowering our patients to be part of each step in the fight against acute lymphocytic leukemia. Our doctors are dedicated to ensuring you are given all the information you need to not only understand your treatment options, but to also participate in making an educated decision you are comfortable with.

If you would like to learn more about acute lymphocytic leukemia and the unique approach to treatment Cancer Treatment Centers of America takes, call us at 800-931-0599 and speak to one of our Oncology Information Specialists. They are available 24 hours a day to take your questions about acute lymphocytic leukemia treatment and help determine whether CTCA is the right treatment center for you.

If you do not feel comfortable talking with us, you can also chat online about acute lymphocytic leukemia treatment at CTCA.

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Treatment at CTCA
At CTCA we know that choosing an acute lymphocytic leukemia treatment center is an important decision. While we at CTCA feel we offer our patients with a comprehensive treatment plan, it is you who knows who can best meet your needs. If you have any questions about our approach to treating cancer, please contact us. We are available any time day or night to assist you. You can choose to either contact us over the phone at 800-931-0599 or online via Chat Now.

At Cancer Treatment Centers of America we are committed to helping people overcome cancer. Our promise states that you and your healing are at the center of everything we do, and inform and drive our actions. Experience the CTCA difference today. We would be honored to help you in your journey against acute lymphocytic leukemia.

If you are exploring your acute lymphocytic leukemia treatment options, please take the time to learn more about Cancer Treatment Centers of America and our unique approach to treating cancer. From the innovative, comprehensive care we offer, to our facilities designed to help patients relax and help focus on healing, at CTCA you will find a level of care you will not find at other treatment facilities.

Acute Myelogenous Leukemia - Prognosis
The most common leukemia diagnosed in adults is called acute myelogenous leukemia. Acute myelogenous leukemia is also sometimes referred to as acute myeloblastic leukemia, acute nonlymphocytic leukemia or acute myelocytic leukemia. The first thing you should understand if you have a received a prognosis of acute myelogenous leukemia is that it is not inherited, nor is it contagious. However, the exact cause of acute myelogenous leukemia is still not known. Acute myelogenous leukemia appears to develop as a result of a defect in the immature cells of bone marrow.

Symptoms of acute myelogenous leukemia normally result from your body not producing enough healthy blood cells. You may have initially gone to the doctor because you felt tired, looked pale, you were bruising or bleeding more easily, developed more infections, or maybe you just had more pain in your bones and joints than usual. You also may have not experienced any of those symptoms. Maybe the prognosis of acute myelogenous leukemia was provided by your doctor after a blood test. Regardless of what led to the prognosis of acute myelogenous leukemia, it is a devastating thing to hear. The doctors at CTCA know that a million questions are running through your head. What is acute myelogenous leukemia? What exists as far as treatment for acute myelogenous leukemia? What does the prognosis of acute myelogenous leukemia really mean? CTCA is here to provide support and answer any questions you may have.

If you have been given the prognosis of acute myelogenous leukemia, we hope you can find comfort in knowing Cancer Treatment Centers of America are here to help. If you want to know what your peers have to say, we have testimonials from many individuals who have found success at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Their experiences are positive ones and they want to share those successes with you. Please read these stories and if you are still unsure about what CTCA can provide, give us a call. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We want you to know that whether you think of a question about treatment at CTCA during the day or in the middle of the night because you just can't sleep, we are always here for you.

Acute Myelogenous Leukemia - Treatment
At Cancer Treatment Centers of America, we take into account many factors that will determine the course of treatment for acute myelogenous leukemia. We know that each person is a unique individual and therefore has different needs. Some of the initial factors we take into account are:

• Age


• General health


• Whether or not there has been previous treatment

• Autologous Stem Cell Transplant which allows for an aggressive treatment of certain types of cancers, including leukemia. You are your own donor in an autologous stem cell transplant. CTCA will harvest your bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells and freeze them until needed. The blood stem cells are then given back to you once you have received high doses of radiation, chemotherapy, or both. The goal being to destroy your cancer cells.


• Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant is when CTCA doctors take healthy bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells from another person and provide them to you. The ideal donor is usually an individual related to you by blood, whose tissue type matches yours as closely as possible. Please do not be discouraged if you do not have a family member with matching tissue. It is sometimes possible to find a donor through the National Marrow Donor Program. To date, most allogeneic stem cell transplants have been performed using stem cells collected from bone marrow. However, the use of peripheral blood stem cells is increasing.

• Nutritional Therapy


• Pain Management


• Naturopathic Medicine


• Mind Body Medicine


• Physical Therapy


• Spiritual Support

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
If you or someone you love is seeking treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, please consider Cancer Treatment Centers of America for treatment options. Our integrative chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatment focuses on more than just the disease, it treats the whole person.

Please continue reading this page for chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatment information and links to more information concerning chronic lymphocytic leukemia. To visit our homepage please follow this link: CancerCenter.com.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Facts
While the exact causes of chronic lymphocytic leukemia are not known, there are some known facts concerning the disease. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia most often affects older adults. Sometimes younger adults will have chronic lymphocytic leukemia, but it is rarely seen in children.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Affects Lymphoid Cells
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia differs from myelogenous leukemia because it affects lymphoid cells not myeloid cells. Generally with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the blast cells are still able to carry out most normal functions. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia usually progresses more slowly than acute leukemia.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treatment
For treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, CTCA physicians combine the most current, conventional treatments with a wide variety of complementary and alternative therapies. We do this because we care about each and every patient and want them to be able to utilize every possible tool in the fight against chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Information
Please call us toll-free if you need to speak to our staff about chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatment options. Cancer Treatment Centers of America will be happy to talk with you about our chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatment philosophy. In addition, you will find out more by following the links on this page. To learn more about chronic lymphocytic leukemia please utilize the links on this page.