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Leukemia - version 0.6
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* Leukaemia

- A cancerous condition in the blood-forming organs that is characterized by the proliferation of abnormal blood cells, resulting
in an excess of immature and dysfunctional cells. 

Etymology: Greek for "white blood".

Characteristics:

      - Usually affects white blood cells (leukocytes), but can also affect platelets and red cells.

      - Unlike most cancers, it does not form a tumor.

      - Begins when an immature blood Cell becomes damaged (cancerous) and starts dividing itself uncontrollably. Later, the
      immature cells mature into specialized types of cells.

      

      Consequences:

            

            - The accumulation of malignant (cancerous) cells starts interfering with the production of healthy white blood cells.
            Therefore, the immunity of the body may decrease drastically.

            - Malignant cells may spread via the blood stream and accumulate in certain regions of the body, specially
            in the Liver, spleen and lymph nodes. This may cause an excessive enlargement of these organs.

            Symptoms: Being blood fundamental to the body, a cancerous blood can spawn all sorts of collateral ailments. There are
            no specific symptoms for this Disease, because many can apply.

            

            2008 AD:

                  Medical diagnosis: Blood test, bone marrow aspiration, biopsy, etc...

                  

                  Medical treatment: Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, bone marrow transplantation, etc... Can vary with
                  the type of Leukemia.

      Causes:

            - In most cases, very little is certain about what caused the Disease. Possible causes are: genetic predisposition,
            exposure to chemicals, exposure to Radiation, exposure to electromagnetic fields (little evidence), viruses, drug
            abuse, etc...

            

      Types:

            - Grouped by how quickly the Disease develops and the type of blood Cell that is affected.

            Acute:

                  - Characterized by the rapid increase of malignant cells. The cells are very dysfunctional.

                  Types:

                        * Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)
                        * Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

                        Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL): A rare form of AML.

            Chronic:

                  - Characterized by a slow increase of malignant cells. Early in the Disease, malignant cells are still able
                  to mature into functional cells. Symptoms are much less severe.

                  Types:

                        * Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
                        * Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)

            Lymphocytic:

                  * Lymphoblastic

                  - When Leukemia affects immature cells that go on to form lymphoid cells (lymphocytes).

                  2006 AD: Most common in children. Is a common cause of Death for children in the United States.

            Myeloid:

                  * Myelogenous

                  - When Leukemia affects immature cells that go on to form myeloid cells.

                  In 2006 AD: Most common in adults. More common in men than women.

            Promyelocytic: When Leukemia affects immature cells that go on to formpromyelocytes.

            Bovine:

                  * Bovine Leukosis

                  - A viral Disease of cattle that causes cows to develop lymphocytosis or, in a smaller proportion, lymphosarcoma
                  (tumours) in various organs. The Bovine Leukemia Virus (BLV) associates itself with the cow's lymphocytes and can
                  be transferred from cow to cow or cow to calf through blood and milk.

                  


                  - It tends to produce a life-long infection in cows.

                  - The Virus causing it (BLV) was first isolated in 1969 AD.

                  In 2003 AD:

                        - Campaigns to eradicate it have been implemented in Europe, United States, Australia and other countries.
                        Some European countries are already free of the Disease.

                        - The prevailing scientific opinion for over Two decades has been that BLV is not transmissible to Humans. Studies
                        have shown that the BLV is not linked to diseases in Humans. All these studies were critically reviewed, but some
                        people are claiming that the tests were crude and are outdated by now.

                        - Scientists have known about the dangers of this for more than 35 years, but the cattle industry and the
                        United States Department of Agriculture ignored the risks because there was never a definitive proof that it
                        can affect Humans ?

                        - Studies have shown that animals of other species are susceptible to BLV, including chimpanzees ?

                        - There are more cases of human leukemias in areas that have more cattle ?

                        

                  In 1996 AD: According to a study made by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of
                  Agriculture, a great percentage of herds in the United States contain cows with the Disease. In some herds across
                  the country, almost every single animal is infected. It is almost certain that the Virus is reaching the Food market.

            Aleukemia:

                  

        
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