Sunday, February 17, 2008

2 of our Honorees


 
From the words of our Team Honoree Captain: KSue Duncan 

LeukemiaLeukemia is the general term used to describe four different disease-types called: 
·                     Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) 
·                     Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) 
·                     Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) 
·                     Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) 

The terms lymphocytic or lymphoblastic indicate that the cancerous change takes place in a type of marrow cell that forms lymphocytes. The terms myelogenous or myeloid indicate that the cell change takes place in a type of marrow cell that normally goes on to form red cells, some types of white cells, and platelets. 

Acute lymphocytic leukemia and acute myelogenous leukemia are each composed of blast cells, known as lymphoblasts or myeloblasts. Acute leukemias progress rapidly without treatment. 

Chronic leukemias have few or no blast cells. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia and chronic myelogenous leukemia usually progress slowly compared to acute leukemias. 

People can get leukemia at any age.  
·        In 2007, about 40,440 adults and 3,800 children were expected to develop leukemia 
·        It is most common in people over age 60 
·        The most common types in adults are AML and CLL 
·        ALL is the most common form of leukemia in children. 

Chronic Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML) 

When a child has leukemia, the bone marrow, for an unknown reason, begins to make white blood cells that do not mature correctly, but continue to reproduce themselves. Normal, healthy cells only reproduce when there is enough space for them to fit. The body can regulate the production of cells by sending signals when to stop. With leukemia, these cells do not respond to the signals to stop and reproduce, regardless of space available. 

These abnormal cells reproduce very quickly and do not function as healthy white blood cells to help fight infection. When the immature white blood cells, called blasts, begin to crowd out other healthy cells in the bone marrow, the child experiences the symptoms of leukemia (i.e., infections, anemia, bleeding). 

JMML is, in some ways, similar to chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), an uncommon leukemia in children. JMML is a leukemia in which the normal bone marrow production of cells becomes very disregulated. A preponderance of immature monoocytes, a type of white blood cell, are produced in the marrow. The marrow continues to produce these abnormal cells, which crowd out other healthy blood cells. JMML generally cause a more severe disruption in blood counts early in the disease than CML, and is not as responsive to treatment. 

The symptoms associated with juvenile myelomoncytic leukemia can occur over a period of weeks to months. 

Lymphomas·        About 63,190 new cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) will occur this year in the United States 
·        About 71,380 people in the United States will be diagnosed with lymphoma this year 
·        As of 2007, an estimated 544,266 people were living with lymphoma (active disease or in remission). 

Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) are the two main types. Most people with lymphoma have one of many different kinds of NHL. About 11.5 percent of people with lymphoma have Hodgkin lymphoma. 

Lymphoma is the name for a group of blood cancers that start in the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is part of the body's immune system - the body's defense against infection. The marrow andlymphocytes are part of the immune system. Some other parts of the immune system are the lymph nodes, the lymphatic vessels, which connect the lymph nodes and contain lymph (a liquid that carries lymphocytes), and the spleen.  

Lymphomas generally start in lymph nodes or lymphatic tissue in sites of the body such as the stomach or intestines. Lymphomas may involve the marrow and the blood in some cases.  

For more information go towww.lls.org 

Thank you all for doing what you are doing – you are making a big difference in many peoples’ lives. GO TEAM!! 

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